Khabib Nurmagomedov, a Hall of Fame UFC fighter, was escorted off a flight after a disagreement over his seating arrangement. The incident occurred on a Frontier Airlines flight from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas to Los Angeles.
A viral video shared on social media shows Nurmagomedov, 36, in a dispute with a flight attendant regarding his placement in an exit row seat. The staff expressed concerns about him sitting in the exit row, leading to a tense exchange. Nurmagomedov addressed the incident in a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating that he was unclear about the reason for his removal.
"The lady who approached me was very rude from the beginning," he wrote. "Even though I speak very decent English and agreed to assist, she insisted on removing me from my seat. I’m not sure if the reason was racial, national, or something else. After a brief conversation, the staff called security, and Nurmagomedov was asked to leave the plane. "I did my best to stay calm and respectful," he added. "But those crew members could do better next time and just be nice to clients."
In the video, Nurmagomedov calmly explains to the airline staffer that he speaks English and can assist in case of an emergency. However, the staffer insists he cannot remain in the exit row. “We either need you to switch seats because my flight attendants are not allowing you to sit in the exit row, or you’ll have to get off this plane,” the staffer says in the clip. Nurmagomedov replies, “It’s not fair,” before eventually being escorted off the plane alongside his travel companions.
Frontier Airlines has not yet commented on the matter, nor have representatives for Nurmagomedov.
Khabib Nurmagomedov retired from UFC in 2021 with an undefeated 29-0 record and remains the longest-reigning UFC lightweight champion in history, holding the title from April 2018 until his retirement.
The story has sparked widespread conversation online, with many expressing opinions on the handling of the situation by the airline staff.
Source: People Magazine
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