Arman Tsarukyan shares his side of American Airlines flight removal story

TL;DR

Arman Tsarukyan was removed from an American Airlines flight after requesting to change seats. The incident escalated when he sat in a different seat despite being instructed to return to his assigned one.

Key points

Arman Tsarukyan was removed from American Airlines flight 513.
The incident began with a request to change seats.
American Airlines expects compliance with crew instructions.

Mentioned in this story

Arman TsarukyanAmerican Airlines

Arman Tsarukyan claims a request to move seats is what started the chain of events that led to him being kicked off an American Airlines flight Thursday.

UFC lightweight contender Tsarukyan went viral when footage surfaced online of him being removed from American Airlines flight 513 before departure from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

A statement from the airline in response to the situation said it expects customers "to comply with crew member instructions while on board our aircraft, which include staying seated while the aircraft is taxiing." Tsarukyan said he asked a flight attendant to move seats before takeoff, and when he was told to return to his assigned seat, sat elsewhere.

It escalated from there, Tsarukyan said.

"I had a team," Tsarukyan said at Friday's RAF 08 press conference prior to Saturday's match vs. Urijah Faber. "There are 11 of us. We are getting in the plane and it was three empty seats. I asked the lady because my seat was next to my friend, and he's a little bit big. I said, 'OK, maybe there is an empty seat.' I asked the lady, 'Can I sit here?' She didn't say yes. She said, 'Where's your seat?' I said, '29A.' She said, 'Go there.' I said, 'Why are you rude?' Then I sit in 30A because it was empty.

"Someone called to my friend and he picked up the phone and my other friend had opened the table. And she came and said, 'Close your table.' He said, 'OK. OK, I'll do that.' Then someone called (my teammate) and he took the phone. Then all three of us got kicked out from the plane."

Tsarukyan, who was headed to Philadelphia for his matchup with Faber, ended up flying private to his desired location. That made for a more comfortable journey, and he said those left behind were envious.

"The others (who did not get kicked off) flew," Tsarukyan said. "Then we got the jet and they said, 'Bro, why didn't you tell me you were flying in the jet? We would like to get (kicked) out, too.'"

This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Arman Tsarukyan shares his side of American Airlines flight removal

Q&A

What happened to Arman Tsarukyan on the American Airlines flight?

Arman Tsarukyan was removed from the flight after he asked to change seats and sat in a different one despite crew instructions.

Why was Arman Tsarukyan kicked off the American Airlines flight?

He was kicked off the flight for not complying with crew instructions after requesting to move seats before takeoff.

What did American Airlines say about the incident involving Arman Tsarukyan?

American Airlines stated that customers are expected to comply with crew member instructions, including remaining seated while taxiing.