Arman Tsarukyan, a lightweight fighter in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), was reportedly ejected from an American Airlines flight on April 16, 2026, while traveling from Los Angeles to Philadelphia. According to Russian journalist Adam Zubayraev, Tsarukyan and three friends were asked to leave the aircraft due to non-compliance with safety regulations. American Airlines clarified that the issue was not solely Tsarukyan's use of his phone, but rather that he or a member of his crew remained standing in the aisle during taxiing, which is against federal regulations. The airline returned the flight to the gate at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) to remove them. Following the incident, Tsarukyan traveled on a private jet and shared a video expressing hope that they would not face further issues. He is set to headline the Real American Freestyle 8 wrestling event against Urijah Faber at The Liacouras Center in Philadelphia.