Former UFC Lightweight Champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has revealed that he was removed from a US flight earlier this year simply because he wanted to reach San Francisco in time to eat at his favorite Pakistani restaurant Chutney before it closed.

 

Speaking on a podcast with host Adam Zubayraev, Khabib shared how his love for Pakistani cuisine led to a now-viral airline incident in January. 

 

The MMA star explained that he specifically booked a budget Frontier Airlines flight from Las Vegas to San Francisco because it was the only option that would get him to Chutney before its closing time.

 

 

“There is a restaurant in San Francisco called Chutney. Pakistani. Number one restaurant. For all of us,” Khabib said. “Honestly, I recently flew to America and I booked a ticket through San Francisco just so I could eat there.”

 

“I’ve been going to Chutney since 2012,” he said. “Every time I’m in San Francisco, I go there.”

 

According to Khabib, the restaurant closes at 9 or 10 PM, and he calculated that only the Frontier flight would get him there in time. Although there was a business class flight available on Delta, its departure time didn’t fit his tight schedule.

 

“There was a Delta business class flight at 8 PM, but I would’ve missed the restaurant. I needed to leave at 5 PM,” he said. “Only Frontier had that timing. My friend said it was economy class, but I told him, it’s just an hour and a half. What’s the problem?”

 

To make the economy trip more comfortable, they selected exit row seats for extra legroom. But that decision backfired. Cabin crew, doubting Khabib’s ability to operate the emergency exit due to language issues, asked him to move. He refused, calmly explaining, “I know the language, I know how to help,” but was eventually removed from the flight by security.

 

Videos of the incident sparked widespread backlash, with many accusing the airline of xenophobia. Khabib, however, remained calm and simply described the crew as rude, urging airlines to treat passengers more respectfully.

 

The undefeated UFC legend, who hails from the Muslim-majority region of Dagestan in Russia, said that while he prefers his native cuisine, when it comes to foreign food, nothing beats Pakistani dishes.