As a Frontier Airlines flight was preparing for departure from Las Vegas to San Francisco, UFC legend Khabib Nurmagomedov was kicked off the plane following his interaction with the staff.
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Khabib Nurmagomedov was kicked off a flight after an interaction with the staff😳‼️ pic.twitter.com/1tXK6FBilw
— Combat Casuals (@Combat_Casuals) January 12, 2025
That is, following this incident that took place on January 11, it has been a back-and-forth between both sides claiming the other is wrong.
In a response to the backlash faced, Frontier is now alleging that the 29-0 fighter ignored a flight attendant's instructions before takeoff. While Khabib is saying that he was discriminated against.
"Mr. Nurmagomedov did not respond, despite repeated attempts, which placed him in non-compliance with FAA requirements," Frontier said in a statement. "...Decision to deplane the customer was in no way related to his ethnicity."
In view of how the whole situation unfolded, Khabib was seated in the exit row, when the flight attendants say the MMA fighter failed to indicate if he was "willing and able to assist in the event of an emergency."
Khabib Nurmagomedov accuses Frontier Airlines of racial bias after being removed from his flight despite cooperating and staying calm pic.twitter.com/M1YL516Ug4
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) January 12, 2025
However, in Khabib's statement, he says that the flight attendants' decision were racially motivated, saying that his English was good enough to understand instructions and that he "agreed to assist."
First of all, I need to clarify that it was @FlyFrontier not AlaskaAir.
Lady who comes to me with questions was very rude from the very beginning, even though I speak very decent English and can understand everything and agreed to assist, she still insists on removing me from my…— khabib nurmagomedov (@TeamKhabib) January 12, 2025
What Khabib had to say about the incident pic.twitter.com/ahBjztWu1O
— indigoism (@HidanSan_) January 12, 2025
Notably, it was apparent that Khabib handled himself well and remained calm considering how he felt.
To point out, he never once used the "Do you know who I am?" celebrity card and cooperated right up to the point of being escorted off.
Let me guess this straight: Khabib was assigned the seat that helps the passengers incase of an emergency, which he agreed to do, BUT some random female passenger complained he didn’t speak enough English to do this job? And they kicked him off? https://t.co/p4YRKumv4a
— 𝗃𝖺𝗌_𝗋777 (@jas_r777) January 12, 2025
One user on X pointed out, "As much as I love to hate on Khabib, this was genuine racism."
The face you make when you realise that the problematic passenger the pilot told you to escort off the plane is the UFC champion and one of the scariest people on the planet - Khabib Nurmagomedov.😂👇 pic.twitter.com/jzGmmMZfao
— PAM (@ParamPam1990) January 12, 2025
Fans have also poked fun at the 29-0 fighter by posing the question "Why you still flying Frontier?" considering he is a multi-millionaire famous athlete.
Bruh you worth 25 million why you still flying terrible Frontier?! One of the worst in the US. pic.twitter.com/HYM6XhPwbc
— JAKE (@JakeGagain) January 12, 2025
Some fans have even shown their support to Khabib by boycotting Frontier.
If Khabib cant fly, I wont fly too. @FlyFrontier pic.twitter.com/5cfRflDed1
— AWURED0 (@AOUREDOO) January 12, 2025
Conor McGregor is now following Frontier Airlines on Instagram, the same airline that recently kicked Khabib off a flight 😭#UFC #MMA pic.twitter.com/6wtVDTgJrk
— Championship Rounds (@ChampRDS) January 13, 2025
the captain who removed khabib from the flight pic.twitter.com/jmQ6Bld01R
— vrsaljak🇭🇷 (@vrsaljak) January 12, 2025
Related: McGregor, Nurmagomedov Suspended and Fined for Massive UFC 229 Brawl
