Video: Khabib Nurmagomedov removed from plane after exit row dispute

Khabib Nurmagomedov was involved in an exit row dispute on an Alaska Airlines flight that resulted in him being removed from the plane.

On Sunday, a clip of Nurmagomedov having a disagreement with a flight attendant went viral. The footage shows Nurmagomedov being asked to change seats, the fighter refusing, and the attendant telling him that a supervisor can be called to escort him off the plane. Nurmagomedov then appears to leave of his own volition.

Watch the clip below, which was shared by @omarsuleiman after being uploaded to TikTok by user @viceplayer28.

The disagreement appeared to be over Nurmagomedov’s English-speaking skills in regards to his ability to assist other passengers in an emergency, as he was seated next to one of the emergency exits.

“I know the language,” Nurmagomedov told the attendant. “I know how to help people.”

“It’s not about the language,” the attendant replied.

Nurmagomedov then questioned the source of the complaint and the dialogue continued as follows:

Attendant: OK, so what we’re going to do is 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 ... because they’re not comfortable with you sitting in the exit row.

Nurmagomedov: Who isn’t comfortable?

Attendant: My flight attendants.

Nurmagomedov: It’s not fair.

Attendant: It is fair.

Nurmagomedov: It’s not fair. You guys, when I checked in, they asked me, do I know English? Yes, I said.

Attendant: They said yes, I understand that, but it’s also off of their judgment. I’m not going to do this back and forth. I will call a supervisor. You can either take a different seat or we can go ahead and escort you off the plane.

Nurmagomedov: It’s not fair.

Attendant: Which one are we doing?

Nurmagomedov made it clear he wanted to remain in his seat, but eventually departed.

MMA Fighting has reached out to Alaska Airlines for comment.

Nurmagomedov, a former UFC lightweight champion that retired with a spotless 29-0 record in 2020, is presumably traveling in preparation for UFC 311. Two of Nurmagomedov’s teammates, Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov, compete in title fights this Saturday in Los Angeles. Makhachev defends his lightweight championship against Arman Tsarukyan in the main event, and Umar Nurmagomedov challenges Merab Dvalishvili for bantamweight gold in the co-main event.