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Khan: 34-year-old boxer alleged he had been ‘banned’ by American Airlines (file photo). Steven Paston/PA

Amir Khan claims US police escorted him off flight for ‘no reason’

The 34-year-old boxer alleged he had been ‘banned’ by American Airlines.

BRITISH BOXER AMIR Khan has said he was escorted from a flight in the US by police “for no reason”.

The 34-year-old, who was a world champion at light-welterweight, claimed he had been “banned” by American Airlines.

In a video posted to Twitter, he said he was trying to fly to a training camp in Colorado from New York, but he and a colleague were removed when someone complained his colleague’s mask “was not high enough”.

He spoke of being “disgusted” by his alleged treatment.

Khan said: “I was taken off the plane today when I was going to training camp to Colorado Springs by the police.

“Obviously a complaint was made by American Airlines staff, they said that my colleague’s mask was not high enough and not up, that they had to stop the plane and take me and my friend off when I did nothing wrong.

“They kicked us both off, I was sat on 1A, he was sat on 1B – I find it so disgusting and so disrespectful, I was supposed to go to Colorado springs for a training camp and now I’m back in New York for another day.

“Now I have to reschedule another airplane to travel back to training camp which is really upsetting, for no reason this was and I’m just so disgusted that American Airlines would do this to us and ban me from travelling.

“I’m sure there must be cameras on the airplane that they could see, or someone should see, to see that if my colleague really was bad in anyway or caused a scene in a way where he had to be taken off the plane – I’ve never seen this happen before.”

An American Airlines spokesman said: “Prior to take-off, American Airlines Flight 700, with service from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW), 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 is reaching out to Mr Khan to learn more about his experience and reinforce the importance of policies implemented for the safety of our customers and crew.”

It denied that Khan and his colleague have been banned from future travel on American Airlines, and said police were not involved in asking either passenger to deplane.

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    Mute Colly08
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    Feb 14th 2019, 8:23 AM

    OK O Shaughnessy Id think about getting out of Munster first.

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    Mute Mike
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    Feb 14th 2019, 9:25 AM

    Bizarre. Limerick are a really good side but I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if they didn’t get out of Munster. I think reaching an All Ireland semi final would be a good return from them. Very hard to back it up after winning it especially in the dogfight of the Munster championship.

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    Mute Alan Fitzgerald
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    Feb 14th 2019, 10:59 AM

    Getting out of Munster is going to be tough and it is definitely possible a Limerick will not make it out but I think\hope this Limerick team will have no other target in mind except defending their all Ireland and anything short of that will be a massive disappointment to the players, I think the supporters will be more forgiving than the players themselves.
    They were under rated last year with talks of the system they play and methodical approach and their attitude and passion. What is not often mentioned is the skill and touch of 1 to 15 to move the ball around the field and maintain possession and to have the confidence in their own ability to stick to it in the white heat of battle. The ability to do this better than anyone else is what set them apart from others last year.

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    Mute Johnny B
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    Feb 14th 2019, 1:54 PM

    Limerick going too well too soon this year. They’ll come up short in 2019. But they’re going to be a major force to be reckoned in 2020 and beyond. Wouldn’t be surprised if they won another 2 or 3 in the next 6/8 years.

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    Mute Poc Fada
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    Feb 15th 2019, 10:15 PM

    Munster is their toughest test as only 3 of 5 good hurling counties go through to the all ireland later stages and I dont fancy going to thurles looking for a win or a draw to get at least 3rd in munster against a tipp team now led by liam sheedy . But take it one game at a time and see where it takes us . luimneach abu .

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