Arman Tsarukyan reacts to American Airlines removal, upgrades himself to private jet

TL;DR

Arman Tsarukyan was removed from an American Airlines flight to Philadelphia due to a minor incident involving his friends. He has since humorously upgraded himself to a private jet for his upcoming fight at RAF 08.

Key points

Arman Tsarukyan removed from American Airlines flight
Incident involved friends using their phones and opening a table
Tsarukyan is attending RAF 08 in Philadelphia
Khabib Nurmagomedov faced a similar removal incident in 2025

Mentioned in this story

PhiladelphiaAmerican Airlines

Arman TsarukyanKhabib NurmagomedovRAF 08

Arman Tsarukyan will be in Philadelphia for RAF 08 this Saturday (Apr. 18, 2026), despite American Airlines’ best efforts to stop him.

Video on Thursday evening captured a surprisingly chill Tsarukyan and two friends being escorted off a plane headed for Philadelphia. The reason given at this time?

“Simply because someone on the team was on their phone while the plane was taking off,” reporter Adam Zubayraev wrote. “And the second person opened up a table. Because of this, Arman and two of his friends were kicked off the flight headed to the RAF tournament.”

That seems like a crazy overreaction from American Airlines, but this wouldn’t be the first time an airline has turfed a top UFC fighter for very little. Back in January 2025, Khabib Nurmagomedov was taken off a plane after flight attendants demanded he move from the exit row due to his ‘poor English skills.’

Number one bulls–t, am I right?

The travel hiccup didn’t stop Tsarukyan, who quickly had a private jet arranged for his travel. Being a ‘spoiled rich kid’ has its advantages, after all.

“I hope they’re not gonna kick me out from this plane,” Tsarukyan joked.

If anything, Tsarukyan will be better rested for his RAF 08 freestyle wrestling match against former WEC featherweight champ Urijah Faber. Video from the plane showed “Ahalkalakets” splayed out sleeping on the private jet’s luxury accommodations.

The Georgian fighter has been extremely busy lately … everywhere except in the UFC, where most want to see him fight. UFC CEO Dana White has said he likes Arman, but not the way Arman tends to cause chaos wherever he goes. In this case, Tsarukyan resisted or so does that earn him brownie points or is this more proof you can’t take him anywhere?

Q&A

Why was Arman Tsarukyan removed from the American Airlines flight?

He and his friends were escorted off the plane because one was on their phone during takeoff and another opened a table.

What event is Arman Tsarukyan attending in Philadelphia?

He is set to compete at RAF 08 on April 18, 2026.

Has another UFC fighter faced a similar situation with American Airlines?

Yes, Khabib Nurmagomedov was removed from a flight in January 2025 for being asked to move from the exit row due to language concerns.