Arman Tsarukyan and two members of his team were removed from an American Airlines flight for violating airline rules during takeoff—reportedly using a phone and opening a tray table. Tsarukyan was traveling to Philadelphia for a scheduled bout at RAF this Saturday. After being removed from the commercial flight, he quickly arranged a private jet and successfully reached the event location. The incident highlights the stricter enforcement of airline regulations during critical flight phases. His fight at the RAF event remains on schedule.
Arman Tsarukyan had an unexpected detour on his way to Philadelphia after he and two members of his team were removed from an American Airlines flight ahead of a scheduled bout at RAF this Saturday.
According to reports, the incident occurred during the takeoff phase when Tsarukyan's party violated airline regulations — specifically using a phone and opening a tray table. The stricter enforcement of rules during critical flight phases led to all three being offloaded before departure. Tsarukyan moved quickly to resolve the situation, arranging a private jet to reach the event location, and his fight remains on schedule.
The 29-year-old Russian fighter, who trains out of American Top Team, currently sits ranked number one in the lightweight division with a professional record of 23 wins and 3 losses. Standing five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, Tsarukyan is an orthodox striker who lands 3.85 significant strikes per minute at a 50 percent accuracy rate, while also posing a consistent grappling threat with 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight contender, making any disruption to his fight week a story with divisional implications.
- Despite the removal from the commercial flight, his rapid pivot to a private jet kept preparations on track and the bout intact.
- The episode underscores how airline policy enforcement during takeoff can affect even high-profile athletes traveling to combat sports events.
