Official report or statement from CAIR or relevant authorities

Khabib Nurmagomedov Removed from Frontier Flight from Las Vegas to Los Angeles, CAIR Calls for Probe Ahead of UFC 311

Jan 12, 2025, 05:00 PM

Former UFC lightweight champion and Hall of Famer Khabib Nurmagomedov, who retired in 2020 with a 29-0 record, was removed from a Frontier Airlines flight departing from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas to Los Angeles after a dispute with a flight attendant over his seat in the emergency exit row. The incident occurred when the flight attendant asked Nurmagomedov to switch seats, expressing discomfort with him sitting in the exit row due to concerns about his ability to assist in an emergency because of his English proficiency. Despite Nurmagomedov's assertion that he speaks and understands English well, he was ultimately escorted off the plane. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has called for an investigation into the incident, suggesting potential racial and religious profiling. Nurmagomedov later boarded another flight 1.5 hours later to reach his destination. He is expected to corner teammates Islam Makhachev and Umar Nurmagomedov at UFC 311 in Los Angeles.