Khabib Nurmagomedov released a statement clarifying that he was removed from a Frontier Airlines flight, not Alaska Airlines, after a verbal dispute with a flight attendant whom he described as “very rude,” questioning if the incident was racially or nationally motivated, and expressed that he remained calm during the encounter before reboarding another flight 90 minutes later.
Khabib Nurmagomedov recently addressed a viral incident involving his removal from an airplane. The UFC legend was seen in a social media clip exiting the aircraft after a disagreement with a flight attendant.
The retired fighter, 36, was asked to change seats due to concerns about his English proficiency during emergencies. He protested, calling the situation “not fair,” but eventually complied.
Nurmagomedov has since issued a statement clarifying the events. He emphasized that the airline involved was Frontier Airlines, not Alaska Air, as initially reported.
“The lady who approached me was rude from the start,” Khabib explained. Despite speaking decent English and offering assistance, he was still removed from his seat. He questioned if racial or national biases played a role.
After a brief conversation, security was called, leading to his deplaning. About an hour and a half later, he boarded another flight to his destination.
Khabib maintained composure throughout the ordeal, as seen in the video footage. He urged crew members to treat clients better in future interactions.
His manager, Ali Abdelaziz, also commented on the situation. “Khabib always comes out on top due to his mannerism and class,” Abdelaziz remarked.
Following the incident’s widespread coverage, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) supported Nurmagomedov. They demanded an investigation into the airline’s conduct while mistakenly identifying Alaska Airlines as involved.
In other news, Khabib is set to corner teammates Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in Los Angeles this Saturday. Makhachev will defend his lightweight title against Arman Tsarukyan, while Umar challenges Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight title.
Damon Martin contributed to this report.