Man Alleges ‘Racism’ By Lufthansa Staff At Frankfurt Airport, Says Elderly Indians Were ‘Treated Like Cattle’

Last Updated:September 25, 2026, 15:45 IST

The man alleged that he noticed the body language, tone and taunts of the Lufthansa airport staff towards elderly passengers, who were mostly Punjabis from India

He shared that the incident made him decide to never visit Frankfurt again (Image: Pexels)

An Indian traveller recounted an alleged unpleasant experience at Frankfurt Airport. In a post on X, he accused airport staff of mistreating elderly Indian passengers and behaving in a discriminatory manner. The incident has left people on social media divided, with many sharing their own instances of discrimination or “racist” behaviour they faced at the airport.

The man named Kunal Biswas shared that the incident took place at Gate Z54 at Frankfurt Airport on September 23, where he claimed to have witnessed “racist behaviour” by Lufthansa airport staff.

He Alleges That The Elderly People Were Treated Like “Cattle”

“Racism by Lufthansa airport staff at Gate Z54 in Frankfurt on 23 September 2026,” he wrote. “I noticed their tone, body language and taunts toward elderly passengers, mostly from Indian Punjab in their 70s–80s, treating them like cattle. I raised my voice.”

The traveller also contrasted the experience with that of the Lufthansa flight crew. He said the crew on the Lufthansa 787 flight were “the opposite” and treated the elderly passengers with kindness. “I have no video, so I am not tagging anyone, but I will never visit Frankfurt again. Bad memory,” he added.

“It’s Only Frankfurt Airport Where I Saw Racism”

He later clarified, “Just to be very clear, been travelling in France for a while, be it TGV or their local trains and flights, lived in Marseilles for a couple of days, people mind their business, spoke in broken English but happy to serve me, it’s only Frankfurt airport where I saw racism.”

Biswas also shared that the Lufthansa help desk later called him about the issue, but he did not reveal what kind of conversation they exactly had.

Internet Has Mixed Reactions To The Incident

The post has since caught quite some attention on the platform, with users sharing their own experiences at the airport, while others pointed out that Indians are themselves responsible for such discriminatory behaviour abroad.

“Frankfurt was like that even 10 – 20 years ago; they treat Black and Brown country travellers like absolute s–t, but then things become good once you are in the Euro- or North America-bound flight section,” said a user.

“I have noticed this too in Frankfurt and a small group of air hostesses at Lufthansa. I usually brushed it off, thinking it was the German directness, but strongly feel they all can undergo a little customer handling training,” another wrote.

An individual shared, “I also have a similar bad memory from Frankfurt airport; the airport staff was so rude and unsupportive during checks that I ended up crying in the washroom after it was over. I am naturally an anxious person in social situations, so it was really unnerving!”

Meanwhile, someone said, “It’s okay, Kunal, at least they’re a bit subtle about it. Unlike us Indians who leave no stone unturned to discriminate other Indians on the basis of caste/religion/region/colour.”

A different person mentioned, “Don’t you think we built that reputation ourselves? I was travelling with Etihad Airways while boarding an airline; a staff member was announcing groups, and by mistake she announced the wrong group, and she apologised, but there was an Indian uncle who shouted at her very badly.”

Disclaimer: This article is based on user-generated content. The claims made in the original post have not been independently verified by News18.

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What incident did traveler Kunal Biswas report about Lufthansa staff at Frankfurt Airport?

Traveler Kunal Biswas claimed on X that Lufthansa staff at Gate Z54 exhibited racist behavior and treated elderly Indian passengers in their 70s and 80s like cattle on September 23, 2026.

How did Kunal Biswas contrast his experience with Frankfurt Airport and his travels in France?

Biswas stated that while traveling in France—including on local trains, flights, and in Marseilles—people minded their own business and were happy to serve him, concluding that he only witnessed racism at Frankfurt Airport.

What was the internet’s reaction to Kunal Biswas’s allegations against Lufthansa staff?

The internet was divided, with some users sharing similar personal experiences of facing rude or discriminatory treatment at Frankfurt Airport, while others suggested that travelers’ own behavior or German directness might play a role.

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