As Zayn Malik celebrates his 32nd birthday in style, Express.co.uk has looked back on the star’s horrifying airport experience during his first trip to the US.

Zayn Malik shot to stardom in 2010 as part of One Direction (Image: Getty Images )

Former One Direction singer Zayn Malik rose to fame in 2010 after they wowed viewers on the  ITV talent show  The X Factor.

The band soon catapulted to global fame with smash hits including What Makes You Beautiful, Story of My Life and Best Song Ever.

However in 2015, the musician decided to leave the band to pursue a solo music career, with the remaining member of the band officially breaking up one year later.

In recent years, the star has become a father to a daughter named Khai which he shares with Gigi Hadid and released his fourth studio album Room Under the Stairs.

But it hasn’t always been plain sailing for the singer. As the Night Changes hitmaker celebrates his 32nd birthday with his nearest and dearest, Express.co.uk has taken a look back on the star’s horrifying airport experience.

The singer has been open about his horrific flight to the US (Image: WireImage)

When the band started to reach dizzying heights of fame and began their global tours across the country, Zayn revealed that he had been the victim of profiling at airports.

Speaking to ABC news, he explained: “The first time I came to America, I had three security checks before I got on the plane. First, they said that I’d been randomly selected, and then they said it was something to do with my name – it was flagging something on their system.”

But things didn’t get any easier for the singer when he landed in the States. He recalled: “It was like a movie. They kept me there for three hours, questioning me about all kinds of crazy stuff, I was 17, my first time in America, jet-lagged off the plane, confused. The same thing happened the next time too.”

Despite his struggles when travelling with the group, Zayn admitted that he understands the “level of caution” and realises that there’s no “benefit to getting angry.”

Malik isn’t the first high-profile celebrity to be profiled by the authorities in their careers. Rogue One star Riz Ahmed penned an essay for The Guardian last year covering his experience being “typecast as a terrorist” both on and offscreen.

He wrote: “Although my U.S airport experience is smoother [after stardom], I still get stopped before boarding a plane at Heathrow every time I fly to the U.S. But now I find it hilarious rather than bruising.”

It comes after the musician paid tribute to his late band member Liam Payne during his first performance since the star’s death last October.

During a performance in Leeds, a message to the Wolverhampton-native flashed up on screen which read: “Liam Payne 1993 – 2024 Love you bro [heart emoji].”