Amir Khan Bolton boxer insists police were involved in taking him off American Airlines flight

BOLTON-born boxer Amir Khan has repeated his claim that he was escorted from a plane by police in the US “for no reason” last week.

This comes despite American Airlines having previously issued a statement saying that police were not involved in the matter.

Writing on Twitter, the 34-year-old, who has also appeared on reality television shows including I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, asserted that in fact he saw two police cars outside the plane and has also posted photographs of the incident. 

He said: "So, American Airlines spokesperson said no police where involved in the matter.

"I was dragged off the plane till I was later recognised, two cop cars waited outside the plane.

"My mask was always up and when I was asked to put down the phone I did, cops saw all my baggage was in storage."

So @AmericanAir Spokesperson said no police where involved in the matter. I was dragged off the plane till I was later recognised, 2 cop cars waited outside the plane. My mask was always up and when I was asked to put down the phone I did, cops saw all my baggage was in storage pic.twitter.com/JJMV7H3Rom

â€" Amir Khan (@amirkingkhan) September 25, 2021

The incident arose on Saturday September 18 when, in video posted to Twitter, Khan 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."

Responding to Khan's initial claims, American Airlines said it was attempting to reach out to him.

A spokesperson said: "Prior to take-off, 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 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.”

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