Russian mixed martial arts fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov was removed from a Frontier Airlines flight in Las Vegas after a seating dispute with airline staff. The incident occurred at the Harry Reid International Airport, where Nurmagomedov was sitting in the exit row on a flight bound for California.
The 36-year-old UFC champion claims he was treated unfairly by a flight attendant who spoke to him “very rudely” and insisted on removing him from his seat despite agreeing to assist passengers in case of an emergency. Nurmagomedov questioned whether the incident was related to racial discrimination, citing his Muslim faith.
Nurmagomedov boarded another airline’s flight after being escorted off the original plane 1.5 hours into the journey. He later wrote on social media that he had fully complied with flight crew instructions during the onboarding process and expressed frustration at the treatment he received.
The incident has sparked widespread attention, with footage of the dispute widely shared online. Frontier Airlines has yet to comment on the incident.
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/sports/2025/1/12/ufc-champion-khabib-nurmagomedov-removed-from-alaska-airlines-flight