UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov removed from Alaska Airlines flight | Mixed Martial Arts News
The retired UFC fighter was involved in a seating incident with Alaska Airlines staff and was later escorted off the plane in Las Vegas, USA.
Footage has surfaced online of UFC Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov involved in an altercation over his seat with airline staff at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, leading to the Russian being kicked off his flight to Los Angeles.
The dispute was about whether Nurmagomedov, who was sitting in the exit row of the plane, was ready or able to help other passengers in the event of an emergency.
In the video, an Alaska Airlines flight attendant asks the 36-year-old if he has the ability to help others from his exit seat if asked.
The incident was recorded on another passenger’s mobile phone and the flight attendant can be heard saying: “We can’t let you sit in the exit row… I’m not going to do that back and forth. I’m going to call the supervisor. You can take another seat or we can escort you off the plane.”
Nurmagomedov replied to the flight attendant: “That’s not fair.” He is also heard saying that he fully complied with the flight crew during the boarding process, adding: “When I was checking in, they asked me if I knew English… and I said yes. Then why are you doing it?”
On the recording, the flight attendant’s manager, dissatisfied with the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) legend’s answer, repeatedly offers Nurmagomed another seat on the plane, as well as offering him the opportunity to take another flight. Nurmagomedov was then escorted off the plane, along with his fellow passengers.
Nurmagomedov is believed to have flown to California to support his teammates ahead of the UFC 311 event on January 18 in Los Angeles, Nevada in the US.
Nurmagomedov, a Muslim, was undefeated (29-0) in his UFC career and is considered by many to be one of the greatest MMA fighters of all time.
Alaska Airlines and Nurmagomedov have yet to comment on the incident, which is believed to have occurred on January 11.
Khabib kicked out of the plane? It seems that not one of the most famous Muslims in the world could escape racial profiling in America. It doesn’t matter what “status” you have.@AlaskaAir this is complete garbage. pic.twitter.com/o6XB3KMi77
— Dr. Omar Suleiman (@omarsuleiman) January 12, 2025
