Conflict Over Exit Row Seat
Former UFC lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov was escorted off a Frontier Airlines flight at Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport after a dispute with airline staff over his seating.
According to MMA Fighting, the 36-year-old, who was heading to Los Angeles to support his teammates for UFC 311, was seated in an emergency exit row when a flight attendant approached him.
The attendant questioned his ability to assist in the event of an emergency, citing the standard requirements for passengers seated in exit rows.
However, Khabib had already been cleared for the exit row during check-in and had assured the crew that he understood the responsibilities.
Escalation of the Dispute
Despite Khabib’s explanation, according to Daily Mail, the flight attendant mentioned that some crew members felt “uncomfortable” with him sitting in the exit row.
Khabib was then asked to move to a different seat.
In a viral video, Khabib protested the request, calling it “unfair.” He also told the attendant, “When I was at check-in, they asked me: do I know everything? I said yes.”
A supervisor was then called to resolve the situation.
Khabib explained that he understands and speaks English, but the supervisor insisted that language was not the issue. The supervisor then reiterated that Khabib had to move, saying,
“We’re either going to have you switch your seat because my flight attendants are not allowing you to sit in the exit row, or you’re going to have to get off this plane and then we’ll have you rebooked.”
After a brief back-and-forth, security was called, and Khabib was escorted off the plane.
90-minute Flight Delay
The incident caused him a 90-minute delay on his second flight, as he was escorted off the first flight and had to wait for rebooking.
After being deplaned, he boarded another flight with a different airline, continuing his journey to Los Angeles.
Khabib Addresses the Incident
Following this, Khabib released a statement regarding the incident on his X account.
He described the flight attendant as “very rude” and questioned whether his removal was based on “racial, national, or other” biases.
He also expressed that he tried to remain calm and respectful throughout the situation, adding that the crew members could have handled the situation better.
Khabib urged the airline to improve its customer service, suggesting that the crew members should simply be nicer to clients in the future.
Frontier Airlines’ Response
Following the incident and viral video, Frontier Airlines confirmed and replied under Khabib’s statement stating that they are investigating the situation.
However, the airline has yet to respond to Nurmagomedov’s claims or provide further details on the incident.
Comments and Reactions
Following this, many expressed mixed reactions. One commenter praised Khabib for his conduct, noting that he was not only a great sportsman but also a gentleman in how he handled the situation.
Another commenter expressed respect for Khabib’s calm demeanor, stating that he handled the situation “as a man should” and wishing him blessings.
One individual admired Khabib’s refusal to use his fame to his advantage, commenting that he didn’t play the “Do you know who I am” card to show superiority.
In contrast, another commenter called the situation “insane” and accused the staff of profiling Khabib and questioning her aggressive reactions towards Khabib.
Despite the positive reactions, however, one commenter seemed to side with the airline, stressing the importance of following rules regardless of the individual’s status.
In response, another commenter defended Khabib, questioning what rule he had broken and challenging the relevance of the American flag in their comment.
Watch the videos here: X
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@viceplayer28 Replying to @Mariam khabibnurmagomedov khabib nurmagomedov ufc champion foryou
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