The Incident
The altercation occurred on Saturday at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas. In the video footage, Nurmagomedov can be seen seated in the exit row when the staff from the airlines informed him that he should either shift his seat or vacate the flight.
"They are not comfortable having you sit in the exit row," the employee says in the video.
Nurmagomedov, visibly frustrated, responded, "It's not fair," to which the worker replied, "It is fair. Yes, it is."
The UFC legend said that during check-in, he was asked if he spoke English, to which he replied positively. Following his affirmative answer, the airline employee insisted that their discretion required him to be moved out of the seat from the exit row. The employee told him there were two options: either change seats and get to his destination or get rebooked to another flight.
Social Backlash on Social Sites
The video has since been popular on the internet, and Alaska Airlines has been criticized for profiling Nurmagomedov, who is Muslim. Fans and supporters have called for boycotting the airline.
Massive comments flooded Alaska Airlines' social media pages:
- One Instagram user said: "Why did you take off Khabib off the plane? His fans have got to know! I hope he sues you."
- "Are you aware of who Khabib is? His legacy overshadows the whole airline," chimed in another.
- "Shame on you, Alaska Airlines. We all boycott them," commented a TikTok user.
- "What's the point?! Because they do not feel comfortable he sits by a window?!" another person questioned.
Response from Khabib Nurmagomedov
Though he has not released a formal statement yet, Nurmagomedov reportedly kept his cool and acted with respect throughout the incident. His actions in the dispute have been hailed as one of the most composed removals from a flight ever captured on video.
What's Next?
Neither Nurmagomedov nor Alaska Airlines has made an official statement regarding the incident. The more the case is discussed online, the more pressure mounts on the airline to clarify and end the controversy.
Keep checking back for updates on this story.
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