Bolton boxer Amir Khans concerns after being kicked off American Airlines flight

FORMER world champion boxer Amir Khan has spoken about being removed from an American Airlines flight.

Olympic silver medalist Amir Khan, 34, was trying to fly to a training camp in Colorado from New York on Saturday September 18 with a colleague before being removed from the plane.

Amir told Kay Burley on Sky News: "I got on the plane and I was sat on seat 1A and my colleague was next to me. I was on a phone call and a lady came over to tell me to put the phone down which I did, we didn't argue, I had my mask on and everything was fine.

"My friend must have been drinking some water, put his mask down a little bit, the lady then came and said you need to put your mask up, so he fixed that.

"The plane is moving now and I'm leaning against the window trying to fall asleep, I was on the way to Colorado for my training camp. The plane then suddenly stopped then before I knew it the doors had opened and police officers walked in and the stewardess then asked us to leave.

"I had done nothing wrong. My mask was always up and I feel that I got treated so badly. It was quite embarrassing standing up in front of a full place and I think they were even shocked to see police in a plane, and why are they taking those two young boys who were sat at the front off.

"We got taken out and they said we were not paying attention to instructions they had given us. One of their press releases said my bag was out and I wasn't listening and was arguing with them which I never did.

"My bag was in the storage area at the top. I just feel like I was treated really badly, it was a week after 9/11 and I do feel things were a little bit tense.

"But to be picked on, two Asian boys sat at the front being pulled out of a full plane was embarrassing."

Kay Burley asked if he felt he was taken off the plane because of "colour of your skin" and it was a "week after 9/11".

Mr Khan replied: "I'm not saying that but I think it might have something to do with that. Maybe the staff didn't feel comfortable with me being sat at the front.

"There was no arguments or shouting or anything. I'm a very quiet guy and respect when they give the instructions. When they told me to put the phone down ­â€" which is the only incident ­â€" I put it down."

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, appeared on the programme after him and said he had experienced similar problems going to America.

Mr Khan said: "I've had problems going to America, being stopped at the airport longer than colleagues who aren't brown or Muslim, it's been an issue for some time, this issue of racial profiling.

"Not just in America but across the globe. I think it's really good for him (Amir) to talk about his experiences. It's one of the good things since the election of the new president (Joe Biden), is some of the toxicity from president Trump's time has hopefully gone.

"One of the things we've got to make sure we do is speak out when we feel we've been treated wrongly so one of the things I'm pleased Amir has done is speak out about his experiences because not everyone is a former world champion, not everyone is an Olympic medalist, not everyone has a platform.

"By people like Amir talking about it hopefully it makes those in authority in America realise that it's not really on.

"And what it does is make people like Amir and others who love America have a weird taste in their mouth a sort of unhappiness with that great country. That's why it's really important for people not to be judged by the colour of their skin or the god they worship."

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.”

Bolton-born former world champion boxer has insisted that police took him and a colleague off a flight to America, and has raised concerns that it may have been racially motivated.

Olympic silver medalist Amir Khan, 34, was trying to fly to a training camp in Colorado from New York on Saturday September 18 with a colleague before being removed from the plane.

This is before he claims he was kicked off the plane by police, despite doing 'nothing wrong', which left him feeling embarrassed, according to the boxer.

American Airlines have previously said no police were involved in the incident.

Mr Khan has now raised concerns that him and his colleague were treated unfairly due to their Asian background, and feels this may have been as a result of the 20th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks being just over a week before.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has praised Amir for using his platform to speak out on the issue of racial profiling at American airports, and said it is something he has experienced himself.

Amir told Kay Burley on Sky News: "I got on the plane and I was sat on seat 1A and my colleague was next to me. I was on a phone call and a lady came over to tell me to put the phone down which I did, we didn't argue, I had my mask on and everything was fine.

"My friend must have been drinking some water, put his mask down a little bit, the lady then came and said you need to put your mask up, so he fixed that.

"The plane is moving now and I'm leaning against the window trying to fall asleep, I was on the way to Colorado for my training camp. The plane then suddenly stopped then before I knew it the doors had opened and police officers walked in and the stewardess then asked us to leave.

"I had done nothing wrong. My mask was always up and I feel that I got treated so badly. It was quite embarrassing standing up in front of a full place and I think they were even shocked to see police in a plane, and why are they taking those two young boys who were sat at the front off.

"We got taken out and they said we were not paying attention to instructions they had given us. One of their press releases said my bag was out and I wasn't listening and was arguing with them which I never did.

"My bag was in the storage area at the top. I just feel like I was treated really badly, it was a week after 9/11 and I do feel things were a little bit tense.

"But to be picked on, two Asian boys sat at the front being pulled out of a full plane was embarrassing."

Kay Burley asked if he felt he was taken off the plane because of "colour of your skin" and it was a "week after 9/11".

Mr Khan replied: "I'm not saying that but I think it might have something to do with that. Maybe the staff didn't feel comfortable with me being sat at the front.

"There was no arguments or shouting or anything. I'm a very quiet guy and respect when they give the instructions. When they told me to put the phone down ­â€" which is the only incident ­â€" I put it down."

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, appeared on the programme after him and said he had experienced similar problems going to America.

Mr Khan said: "I've had problems going to America, being stopped at the airport longer than colleagues who aren't brown or Muslim, it's been an issue for some time, this issue of racial profiling.

"Not just in America but across the globe. I think it's really good for him (Amir) to talk about his experiences. It's one of the good things since the election of the new president (Joe Biden), is some of the toxicity from president Trump's time has hopefully gone.

"One of the things we've got to make sure we do is speak out when we feel we've been treated wrongly so one of the things I'm pleased Amir has done is speak out about his experiences because not everyone is a former world champion, not everyone is an Olympic medalist, not everyone has a platform.

"By people like Amir talking about it hopefully it makes those in authority in America realise that it's not really on.

"And what it does is make people like Amir and others who love America have a weird taste in their mouth a sort of unhappiness with that great country. That's why it's really important for people not to be judged by the colour of their skin or the god they worship."

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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