A Canadian Cabinet minister said he was left 'speechless' after he was told to take off his turban at a security check at a Detroit airport.

Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, said that while on his way back to Canada in April 2017, he was asked to remove his turban at Detroit Metro Airport after he had already passed through regular security checks.

He said that he was asked to do additional security checks because he as wearing a turban, calling the experience 'uncomfortable'.

The minister said when they realized who he was they allowed him to travel and not take it off. Bains told Canada's foreign minister who then complained to US officials.

US officials have issued an apology to the Canadian Minister.

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Navdeep Bains, Canadian Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development said he was asked to take off h

He said US officials expressed regret and apologized and he's accepted the apology.

'I was very frustrated and disappointed that this occurred but ultimately I was allowed to fly,' Bains said in an interview with the French-language paper La Presse on Thursday.

'But it was because of who I was and that should not be the case. It doesn't matter what your status is and what your position is,' he added.

Bains said it's the first time he's been asked to take his turban off while travelling in the US.

'I was speechless … I was at the point of boarding and they asked me to take off my turban. But upon learning of my diplomatic status, they told me that everything is fine. That's not a satisfactory response,' he said.

In the Sikh religion men are required to wear the turban.

Mike England, a spokesman for the US Transportation Security Administration, said closed-circuit video was reviewed and said the officer conducting the screening did not follow standard operating procedures and has received additional training.

'We regret the screening experience did not meet the expectations of Mr. Bains,' he said in an email.

But England said security does have the right to search headwear.

'All persons wearing head coverings may be subject to additional security screening, which may include an officer-conducted or self-conducted pat-down. TSA does this to ensure that prohibited items or weapons are not concealed beneath any type of clothing and brought onto an aircraft. This policy covers all headwear and is not directed at any one particular item or group,' he said.

'We recognize that passengers may be unable or unwilling to remove items for religious, medical, or other reasons, and should expect to undergo additional screening protocols.'