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Boxer Amir Khan has said he was escorted from an American Airlines flight in the US by police "for no reason".
Boxer Amir Khan has said he was escorted from an American Airlines flight in the US by police "for no reason". Photograph: Steven Paston/PA
Boxer Amir Khan has said he was escorted from an American Airlines flight in the US by police "for no reason". Photograph: Steven Paston/PA

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

This article is more than 2 years old

Boxer feels he and colleague were picked on as ‘two Asian boys’ a week after the 20th anniversary of the 9/11

The British professional boxer Amir Khan has said he felt his removal from an American Airlines flight in the US was racially motivated.

Khan, who was born and raised in Bolton by his Pakistani parents, said he and his colleague were “picked on” because they were “two Asian boys” and it was a week after the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in the US.

The 34-year-old and his colleague were on their way to a training camp in Colorado on 18 September when they were removed from Flight 700 to Dallas-Fort Worth at Newark Liberty international airport in New Jersey.

American Airlines has said Khan and his colleague were “deplaned” because they repeatedly refused to comply with crew member requests to stow luggage, place phones in airplane mode and adhere to face mask requirements.

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But Khan has insisted none of this is true, conceding only that he was asked to turn his phone off once, which he did immediately.

Asked by Kay Burley on Sky News if he felt his removal was racially motivated, Khan said: “Definitely definitely. I’m going to stand by that. It was 9/11 a week before that, then having two Asian boys sat at the front … I hope I’m wrong. But I had done nothing wrong. I got kicked off a plane for no reason and it was embarrassing for us.”

Khan said he was sat in seats 1A and 1B with his friend and colleague on the plane and shortly after taking their seats he was asked to end a phone call, which he said he did. The boxer said his colleague was then asked to pull his mask above his nose and he believes it had slipped when he was taking a sip of water.

The plane started to taxi when it stopped again and was boarded by three police officers and Khan and his colleague were asked by a cabin crew member to leave.

He said: “I just feel I was treated really badly. It was a week after 9/11, I do feel things were a bit tense, but to be picked on, two Asian boys sat at he front, being pulled out in front of a full plane. It’s quite embarrassing really.”

Asked if he believed he was removed from the flight because of the colour of his skin, he said: “I’m not saying that but I think it might have something to do with that.”

Khan said he has been banned from American Airlines flights and flights operated by its parent company Oneworld, however, the airline said this was not the case.

“We felt like criminals. We felt like we had done something wrong, the way we were dragged out the plane,” he said.

Khan said the officers who removed him from the flight later recognised him and requested photos with the former world champion boxer.

A statement from American Airlines said: “Prior to take off on 18 September, American Airlines Flight 700, with service from Newark Liberty international airport to Dallas-Fort Worth, 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 has reached out to Mr Khan to learn more about his experience.”

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