Arman Tsarukyan has now given a much more detailed version of what happened before he was removed from an American Airlines flight on his way to Philadelphia.
The UFC lightweight contender, who is set to face Urijah Faber at RAF 08, said the incident started when he tried to move to an empty seat because the spot next to one of his friends was cramped. That adds a new layer to the story after the airline’s earlier statement and the first wave of viral footage. It also comes after Tsarukyan had already stayed in the news through his initial flight-removal story, his Ryan Garcia betting drama, and his latest pound-for-pound rise.
Speaking Friday at the RAF 08 press conference, Tsarukyan said:
“I had a team. 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.”
Tsarukyan said things got worse after that exchange when members of his group were still dealing with crew instructions while devices and tray tables were out. He said:
“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.”
😅🇦🇲 Arman Tsarukyan explains his side of the story regarding being kicked off an American Airlines flight.
(via @JakeNoecker) pic.twitter.com/jrVPZB1dPV
— Home of Fight (@Home_of_Fight) April 17, 2026
American Airlines previously said, “On April 16, American Airlines flight 513 returned to the gate at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for customers who refused to follow federal regulations.” The airline also said, “Safety is our top priority and we expect our customers to comply with crew member instructions while on board our aircraft, which include staying seated while the aircraft is taxiing.”
Tsarukyan says the private jet ending turned into a joke
Tsarukyan still made it to Philadelphia, and he made it sound like the ending turned into a joke once he switched travel plans. He said:
“The others (who did not get kicked off) flew. 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.’”
He remains one of the top names hovering near the lightweight title picture, with major wins over Charles Oliveira and Beneil Dariush, plus a long-running reputation as one of the division’s toughest matchups.
Watch Tsarukyan’s earlier response below:
Watch the plane clip below:
