The former UFC Lightweight Champion could be heard complaining that the treatment was ‘unfair’.
Footage has emerged on social media of UFC star Khabib Nurmagomedov embroiled in a seating dispute with airline staff on a flight from Las Vegas to Los Angeles.
The undefeated MMA fighter was filmed having a back and forth with a member of the Alaska Airlines crew while the plane was getting ready for takeoff at Harry Reid International Airport.
Khabib Nurmagomedov kicked off plane after dispute with flight crew
— Best MMA Moments (@XcellentMMA) January 12, 2025
A flight attendant asked Khabib to confirm he could assist in an emergency for his exit row seat. Khabib didn't understand initially, and despite eventually agreeing, the crew doubted his ability. After… pic.twitter.com/NHOXl74cna
After an exchange in which Khabib can be heard describing the treatment he was experiencing as “unfair”, the Russian can be seen getting out of his seat before being escorted off the aircraft by a member of airport security.
Earlier in the clip, the female attendant can be heard saying: “We cannot allow you to sit in the exit row, or you’re going to have to get off this plane.”
Al Jazeera reports that the dispute centred around whether Nurmagomedov, who was sitting in the plane’s exit row, was prepared, or able, to help other passengers in the event of an emergency.
UFC 311, which takes place on 18 January, will see Khabib Nurmagomedov return to the octagon corner to support his protege Islam Makhachev and his cousin Umar Nurmagomedov.
Khabib retired from the UFC following his unification bout with Justin Gaethje in October 2020.
Some on social media have suggested that the fighter’s broken English contributed to a misunderstanding, while another argued: “The crew did the right thing. If someone seems even remotely not comfortable helping people in an emergency situation, then they should be moved.
The X user continued: “If they did in fact ask him multiple times and he did not respond with any answer other than “yes” then they did do the right thing by asking him to either change seats or get off the plane. This isn’t rocket science. If they didn’t then yes they messed up. Simple as that.”
Alaska Airlines and Nurmagomedov have yet to comment on the incident
