Arman Tsarukyan was removed from a commercial flight along with his team due to violations of airline rules, specifically using a phone during takeoff and having a tray table down. Tsarukyan was en route to compete at a wrestling tournament when the incident occurred. After being removed from the American Airlines flight, he arranged a private jet to ensure he would make it to his scheduled match. His bout against Yuriah Faber at RAF08 remains on schedule and will take place in two days as planned.
Arman Tsarukyan had to improvise his travel plans after being removed from a commercial American Airlines flight along with his team, just days before his scheduled bout at RAF08.
The incident stemmed from violations of standard airline rules — Tsarukyan was reported to have used his phone during takeoff and had his tray table down at the time. The entire group was ejected from the flight as a result. Rather than risk missing his commitment, Tsarukyan arranged private jet travel to reach his destination in time.
The 29-year-old Russian lightweight, who trains out of American Top Team, enters the RAF08 event as the number-one ranked contender in the lightweight division. Fighting out of an orthodox stance at five-foot-seven with a 72-inch reach, Tsarukyan carries a professional record of 23-3-0. He is one of the more well-rounded threats in the 155-pound weight class, averaging 3.85 significant strikes landed per minute at 50 percent accuracy while also posting 3.26 takedowns per 15 minutes — a combination that makes him dangerous in virtually every phase of a fight.
His scheduled match against Yuriah Faber at RAF08 remains on track and is set to proceed as planned in two days, with the travel disruption apparently resolved.
Why it matters
- Tsarukyan is the top-ranked lightweight, meaning any disruption to his participation in a scheduled bout carries divisional significance
- The private jet solution suggests the camp treated the situation with urgency and the fight card is not expected to be affected
- A wrestler heading to a wrestling tournament ahead of an MMA commitment underlines how active Tsarukyan remains across combat sports disciplines
