CNN
—
Oldschool UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov “changed into requested to deplane” a Frontier Airways plane after a inequity over him sitting in an exit-row seat, the airline mentioned in an announcement to CNN.
In a video that changed into shared on social media, Nurmagomedov can also be viewed in a anxious dialogue with a bunch member on board the airplane sooner than he departs the plane. The 36-Twelve months-broken-down is widely opinion to be to be one amongst the ideal blended martial artists of all time. In a put up on Sunday on X about the incident, Nurmagomedov wrote that a “lady” had been “very shocking” to him.
“On Jan. 11, 2025, as flight 4401 from Las Vegas to San Francisco changed into making ready for departure, a flight attendant initiated the archaic briefing for exit row passengers,” Frontier mentioned in an announcement. “Buyer Khabib Nurmagomedov, who changed into seated in an exit row, changed into requested a pair of times if he changed into willing and in a spot to aid within the event of an emergency.
“In preserving with the flight attendant, Mr. Nurmagomedov did no longer acknowledge, no topic repeated attempts, which placed him in non-compliance with FAA requirements. As a result, he changed into requested to pass to a bizarre upgraded seat which he refused to total.
“As a result of this truth, in accordance with airline and FAA coverage, he changed into requested to deplane. The choice to deplane the buyer changed into in no manner connected to his ethnicity and now we hang refunded him and his traveling companions for his or her flights.”
Within the video, the group affords Nurmagomedov the option of altering his seat to sit down in a non-exit row, or exit the plane and rebook on one other flight. She says the motive is due to “flight attendants” are “no longer happy” with him sitting within the exit row. Nurmagomedov complains that that is unfair, and the group says, “it’s magnificent.”
CNN changed into no longer in a spot to search out out what happened sooner than the video started, and the video looks to be edited between the swap and Nurmagomedov’s departure from the plane.
Nurmagomedov wrote on X on Sunday after the incident: “Lady who involves me with questions changed into very shocking from the very starting up put, even supposing I talk very first payment English and might per chance realize all the pieces and agreed to aid, she quiet insists on putting off me from my seat.
“What changed into the mistaken for that, racial, nationwide or other one, I’m no longer distinct. But after 2 minutes of conversation, she called safety and I changed into deplaned from this plane, after 1,5 hour I boarded one other airline one and left to my vacation situation.
“I did my ideal to preserve quiet and respectful as you would per chance per chance gawk on the video. But these crew contributors might per chance cease greater subsequent time and appropriate be nice with clients.”
CNN has reached out to Nurmagomedov for comment.
The video begins with Nurmagomedov, who retired with an unbeaten 29-0 file, asserting: “I know the language, I know English, I know techniques to again folk.”
The flight attendant replies that “it’s no longer about the language, sir,” sooner than adding: “So what we’re going to total is we’re either going to hang you ever swap your seat, because of my flight attendants are no longer allowing you to sit down within the exit row, otherwise you’re going to need to acquire off this plane and then we’ll need to rebook you.”
Numagomedov says it’s “no longer magnificent,” adding: “Once I changed into making check-in, they requested me: ‘Originate I know English?’ I mentioned yes. Then why you guys cease this?”
Nurmagomedov retired in 2020 after victory over Justin Gaethje. He defeated Conor McGregor in a blockbuster bout in 2018 and in 2022 changed into inducted into the UFC Hall of Popularity.