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The Qantas passenger who kicked off a flight for swearing at the crew after claiming they were “rude” to his wife has been identified as a professional rugby player and charity ambassador Zakir Slaimankhel.
Mr Slaimankhel, who recently represented Afghanistan at an international rugby tournament and works for a nonprofit, caused a storm on social media after images of him arguing with Qantas staff went viral online.
The father and his family have been removed from the Qantas QF44 Denpasar to Sydney flight by police after he assaulted the crew members “a number of times” last month.
Mr Slaimankhel (pictured), who represented Afghanistan at an international rugby tournament and works for Muslim non-profit Around the World, caused a storm on social media after images of him arguing with airline staff went viral.
Last month, Mr Slaimankhel (pictured) and his family were removed from a flight to Sydney from Bali by police for abusing crew members ‘a number of times’.
Footage captured by another passenger sitting a few rows behind the rugby star shows Mr Slaimankhel demanding staff to apologize to his wife.
“Tell them to apologize. I’m telling you now you’re being rude, and it’s fucking disgusting,” he says.
“They made her cry, and she’s crying because they were rude to her with a newborn baby, sorry,” the man said.
“You get mad at my wife because they both (their children) have double teeth.
“Tell them to come and apologize now. It’s so disgusting what they did to her.’
Footage captured by another passenger (pictured) sitting a few rows behind the rugby star shows Mr Slaimankhel demanding flight attendants apologize to his wife
The meeting escalated after a flight attendant police informed Mr Slaimankhel that police had arrived to remove him from the plane.
“I’m sorry we can’t take you. The police are here. ‘Unfortunately, sir, you cursed my crew. You can’t upset my crew,” the flight attendant says.
‘Bring them here. You can force my kids out if you want,” he fires back.
“You’re making my wife cry and now you’re getting mad at me. Tell security to come get me by the balls.’
The footage ends with Mr Slaimankhel telling the flight attendant, who at one point raised her hand to silence him, to ‘get out of my face’.
He regularly posts photos of expensive vacations, designer bags and encounters with TikTok sensation Hasbulla Magomedov on his Instagram.
Mr Slaimankhel regularly posts photos on his Instagram of expensive vacations, designer bags and encounters with TikTok sensation Hasbulla Magomedov (pictured)
Mr. Slaimankhel (pictured with children in Togo, Africa) works for Muslims Around the World, a non-profit organization that provides clean water, food, shelter, education and religious charitable projects to people in third world countries
Mr. Slaimankhel works for Muslims Around the World, a non-profit organization that provides people in third world countries with clean water, food, shelter, education and religious charitable projects.
He captioned a photo of himself surrounded by young children in Togo, on the west coast of Africa: ‘Leaders of the future… these orphans laugh more than we do’.
On Monday, the doting father, who lives in New Zealand, posted a photo of his two young children on an economy flight with the caption “Good to be back.”
On Monday, the doting father, who lives in New Zealand, posted a photo of his two young children on an economy flight with the caption “Good to be back.”
In August, he represented Afghanistan at the Asia Rugby Sevens Championship in Indonesia, where his team came in second and was the top try scorer.
In August, Mr. Slaimankhel represented Afghanistan at the Asia Rugby Sevens Championship in Indonesia, where his team finished second and was the leading try scorer
A Qantas spokesperson said Mr Slaimankhel and his family were removed from the plane after “abusing our crew a number of times before the flight departed Bali.”
They said the cabin crew had followed the procedure and a travel ban could be imposed on the passenger when the altercation is reviewed by a panel.
“The safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority and we do not tolerate abuse of any kind,” they said.
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Zakir Slaimankhel for comment.