After an altercation with airline employees over seating, a former UFC fighter was removed off an Alaska Airlines aircraft.
A heated argument over seating arrangements in the exit row led to the removal of former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov off an Alaska Airlines flight; the heated confrontation was captured in a viral video.
According to the video, airline employees asked Nurmagomedov to switch seats, citing rules, but he refused.
The retired fighter is heard being warned by a flight attendant that he might be escorted off the aircraft by a supervisor. Nurmagomedov willingly stepped out of the plane a few moments later.
The flight attendant can be heard saying, “We cannot allow you to sit in the exit row,” in the video that was recorded on another traveler’s cell phone. I will not engage in this back-and-forth behavior. I’m going to phone a manager. We can escort you off the aircraft, or you can choose to sit in a different seat.”
In response, Nurmagomedov stated: “It’s unfair. I responded in the affirmative when they asked if I knew English during check-in. So why do you people do this?
After defeating Justin Gaethje in Abu Dhabi and increasing his undefeated record to 29-0, the 36-year-old fighter from Dagestan, Russia, announced his retirement in 2020.
The first Muslim and Russian to win the UFC lightweight title is Nurmagomedov.
When he defeated Conor McGregor of Ireland in a well-publicized lightweight title bout in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2018, it was one of his most well-known triumphs.
Social media outrage
Many social media users were outraged by the episode and accused the airline of racial and religious profiling.
The airline was criticized by Dr. Omar Suleiman, who tweeted, “Khabib removed from a plane? Even one of the most well-known Muslims in the world appears to have been subjected to racial profiling in the United States. @AlaskaAir, this is utter nonsense.
In his speculative post, Furkan Gozukara wrote, “UFC World Champion Khabib was taken from the plane because someone complained that he was uncomfortable; he was sitting next to the emergency exit. The only explanation that seems to mind is that she is aware of his anti-Israel and pro-Palestine views.
“Why was Khabib Nurmagomedov taken off the plane?” Dilly Hussain said, denouncing the action. It seems that there are no limits to the racial and religious profiling of Muslims. Shameful.
