Amir Khan calls removal from American Airlines flight ‘racially motivated’

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Amir Khan and colleague removed from American Airlines flight after reported face mask row

Amir Khan says he and his colleague were removed from an American Airlines flight "for no reason"; however, airline says both passengers reportedly refused to comply with a number of staff requests, including ones regarding face masks

Amir Khan says he is "disgusted" after he and a colleague were removed from an American Airlines flight on Saturday for reportedly failing to comply with face covering requirements.

The former light-welterweight world champion said in a Twitter post that he was trying to fly to a training camp in Colorado from New York, but he and his colleague were removed when someone complained his colleague's mask "was not high enough".

Khan then claimed he was escorted from the flight by police "for no reason".

Khan said: "I was taken off the plane today when I was going to training camp to Colorado Springs by the police.

"Obviously a complaint was made by American Airlines staff, they said that my colleague's mask was not high enough and not up, that they had to stop the plane and take me and my friend off when I did nothing wrong.

"They kicked us both off, I was sat on 1A, he was sat on 1B - I find it so disgusting and so disrespectful, I was supposed to go to Colorado Springs for a training camp and now I'm back in New York for another day.

"Now I have to reschedule another airplane to travel back to training camp which is really upsetting, for no reason this was and I'm just so disgusted that American Airlines would do this to us and ban me from travelling.

"I'm sure there must be cameras on the airplane that they could see, or someone should see, to see that if my colleague really was bad in any way or caused a scene in a way where he had to be taken off the plane - I've never seen this happen before."

However, American Airlines disputed Khan's claim that he and his colleague were removed "for no reason", stating that they reportedly would not comply with a number of crew member requests.

The airline also denied that police were involved in asking either of the passengers to leave the flight, or that they had been banned from flying with them again.

An American Airlines spokesperson said: "Prior to take-off, American Airlines Flight 700, with service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), returned to the gate to deplane two customers who reportedly refused to comply with repeated crew member requests to stow luggage, place cell phones in airplane mode and adhere to federal face covering requirements.

"Our customer relations team is reaching out to Mr Khan to learn more about his experience and reinforce the importance of policies implemented for the safety of our customers and crew."

Khan was a lightweight silver medallist at the 2004 Olympics in Athens before making his professional debut a year later.

He stepped up to light-welterweight and claimed the WBA world title in 2009 with a win over Andreas Kotelnik before claiming the IBF belt with victory over Zab Judah two years later. However, Khan surrendered his titles to Lamont Peterson later that year.

The 34-year-old also fought Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez for the middleweight world title and Terence Crawford for the welterweight world title, but was stopped on both occasions.

He last fought against Australian Billy Dib in Saudi Arabia in 2019.

https://www.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/12411924/amir-khan-and-colleague-removed-from-american-airlines-flight-after-reported-face-mask-row

 

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British boxer Amir Khan has told Sky News he believes he was escorted off a plane in the United States possibly due to the colour of his skin.

The 34-year-old said he was given a police escort off the plane and "banned" from travelling by American Airlines while trying to fly to a training camp in Colorado from New York on 18 September.

He spoke out on social media about his ordeal and said he was "disgusted" by his treatment, saying there was no reason for him to be removed.

He said a colleague was also forced off the flight, with staff complaining his face mask "was not high enough".

American Airlines crew members reported the pair for allegedly failing to stow luggage, not putting their phones on airplane mode, and not complying with federal rules on face masks.

The airline says Khan and his colleague "reportedly refused to comply with repeated crew member requests".

Speaking to Kay Burley on Monday, the sports star said the colour of his skin and the flight being a week after the anniversary of 9/11 "might have had something to do with" how he was treated.

https://news.sky.com/story/amir-khan-claims-his-removal-from-us-plane-was-racially-motivated-12419665

 

[Double Trouble]

I watched the interview with Kay Burley of Sky News this morning. This guy is a absolute embarrassment who can’t string 2 sentences properly in English.

When you refuse to wear a mask properly, keep your luggage in front of you instead of the over head locker as well as constantly using your phone which isn’t on aeroplane mode what did you expect from American Airlines the top joker.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Waste of time flying to America for a training camp anyway. A fighter who wastes 2 years of his career clowning about when he's hit his 30's should forget about boxing and go to DisneyLand Europe instead.

 

[Ahmad-GERMANFC]

The bigger news is that he is flying for a training camp? I thought his career was fine with all the random reality shows and antics he’s been involved in the last few years.

Giy should retire and move on

 

[KingKhanWC]

It seems a bit too extreme to kick someone off a plane for not having their mask fully up. Although Amir can clown around , there maybe some racism involved here, it's hard to say.

When I go on a plane, I will put a blanket over my head and go to sleep. I also wouldnt fly on American airlines, there are various reports of such pathetic behaviour from them.

 

[PakLFC]

Oh shut up Amir trying to talk yourself up and that. Plenty of Pakistanis and brown people travel to the USA every day without any problems. On the aircraft rules have to be followed by everyone, idiot.

 

[mazkhan]

The guy is an absolute tool

Further proven when he did that reality show with his plastic wife.

Was never smart in the ring , frank Warren pulled this issue up many times about amir that he leaves himself open and his defence isn't very good and that he should retire .

I don't even know why he is training when the big money fights are out of his reach and there's no way he can compete against the elite boxers today, Terence Crawford fight was there for everyone to see amir feigned a low blow and quit ,

first time he did that to quit which shows its over for him he may be a tool but one thing amir had was guts and incredible stamina determination to keep going

Ever since he got married and that girl came into his life it went downhill for him pretty quick .

 

[Robert]

It seems a bit too extreme to kick someone off a plane for not having their mask fully up. Although Amir can clown around , there maybe some racism involved here, it's hard to say.

When I go on a plane, I will put a blanket over my head and go to sleep. I also wouldnt fly on American airlines, there are various reports of such pathetic behaviour from them.

Probably he got kicked off sooner than a white man exhibiting the same behaviour would have.

 

[Saj]

Sounds like he wasn't following protocol?

Surely everyone has to follow the rules.

 

[GenericBrand]

Yeh, I call ** on the 'racially motivated' part

Sounds similar to the story of the TikTok-er who, with his family, was denied service at the local famous Dessert shop in my area due to not following Covid19 protocols and then made a video claiming to be racially discriminated against.