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Watch: 'Take me by the balls'- Kiwi rugby star's air rage caught on video

Author
news.com.au,
Publish Date
Wed, 26 Oct 2022, 3:00pm

Watch: 'Take me by the balls'- Kiwi rugby star's air rage caught on video

Author
news.com.au,
Publish Date
Wed, 26 Oct 2022, 3:00pm

A man kicked off a Qantas flight for demanding cabin crew apologise to his wife has been identified as a high-profile Kiwi international rugby player and charity ambassador.

九一星空无限.com.au can reveal that Zakir Slaimankhel was the man聽filmed arguing with a flight attendant aboard an aircraft at Bali鈥檚 Denpasar Airport on September 20.

Slaimankhel, who arrived in New Zealand as a refugee from Afghanistan, was the leading try scorer for Afghanistan at the Asia Rugby Sevens tournament in Indonesia in August and is an ambassador known as 鈥楤rother Zak鈥 for non-profit Muslims Around the World (MATW).

He has more than 100,000 followers on Instagram where he shares content from his travels and his work with orphans.

九一星空无限.com.au has approached Slaimankhel for comment over the incident that went viral when a fellow passenger shared footage that found its way onto TikTok.

In the footage, Slaimankhel claimed there was an altercation between the cabin staff and his wife and young children, who he says were teething at the time.

During the argument, he claimed the interaction left his wife in tears and accused staff of mishandling his pram.

聽鈥淭hey made her cry and she鈥檚 crying because they were being rude to her. With a newborn baby,鈥 he could be heard telling the flight attendant.

Zakir Slaimankhel was kicked off a Qantas flight at Denpasar Airport after an extended argument with cabin crew. Photo / TikTokZakir Slaimankhel was kicked off a Qantas flight at Denpasar Airport after an extended argument with cabin crew. Photo / TikTok

The argument escalated and the flight attendant told him to 鈥渟top鈥 a number of times. But Slaimankhel continued to demand an apology.

鈥淯nless you carry my kids out, force them out, we鈥檙e not leaving,鈥 he said.

At another point, he told the staff member to: 鈥淏ring the police here,鈥 to which the flight attendant responded: 鈥淲e are.鈥

Slaimankhel was told he swore and was rude towards the staff, to which he responded: 鈥淵ou鈥檙e getting angry at my wife because both of them (their kids) are double teething.鈥

He then said: 鈥淵ou can鈥檛 upset my family and kids. What are you talking about: 鈥榊ou can鈥檛 upset my crew,鈥 my wife is crying.鈥

鈥淭ell security to come and take me by the balls,鈥 he later added.

Finally, he told the flight attendant to: 鈥淕et out of my face,鈥 before the staff walked away.

Slaimankhel with orphans during his work for non-profit Muslims Around the World.Slaimankhel with orphans during his work for non-profit Muslims Around the World.

Qantas slams behaviour

In a statement to news.com.au, a Qantas spokesperson claimed the family were eventually removed from the aircraft after clashing with the crew 鈥渁 number of times prior to the flight departing Bali鈥.

Under airline procedure, incidents involving inappropriate behaviour is referred to a panel which will decide on further action, which could include a travel ban.

鈥淭he safety of our customers and crew is our number one priority,鈥 the spokesperson said.

鈥淲e ask customers to follow the direction of crew for the safety and comfort of everyone on board.鈥

In the comments, users were mixed in their response, with some siding with the airline, while others stating the man was defending his family.

鈥淚dk who鈥檚 in fault here, but generally speaking. Airlines quality of service & customer care (towards economy class) are just getting worse everyday,鈥 one comment read.

鈥淚 would like to see what happened beforehand, but this flight attendant was trying to rev him up!鈥 commented another.

鈥楳ake the country proud鈥

Slaimankhel鈥檚 work with Muslims Around the World shows him interacting with child orphans in places like Togo.

鈥淟eaders of the future, these orphans smile more than us,鈥 he writes beneath one photo.

鈥淪omething that may seem so small so little for us can mean the world to someone else,鈥 he writes beneath another.

On a trip to Lebanon with the non-profit, Slaimankhel shared a photo with an elderly man. He wrote beneath it: 鈥淎ll ages, the same struggle.鈥

He represented Afghanistan at the Asia Rugby Sevens championship two months ago and was the leading try scorer for a side that brought home the silver medal.

Slaimankhel playing for Auckland Grammar's First XV in 2012. Photo / PhotosportSlaimankhel playing for Auckland Grammar's First XV in 2012. Photo / Photosport

In an interview with SBS 九一星空无限, Slaimankhel described how he, his older brother Sabir and three more family members made up five of the squad of nine.

Slaimankhel鈥檚 brother Omar, the former Warriors star, was captain of the side.

Slaimankhel said representing his home country during the humanitarian crisis was a big deal for him and his family.

鈥淚t wasn鈥檛 just about the sport and playing rugby, it was about the whole country and how much they鈥檝e been suffering over the years,鈥澛爃e said.

鈥淲e really wanted to just make them proud and make the country proud.鈥

Slaimankhel did not respond to news.com.au鈥檚 request for comment.

Additional reporting - NZ Herald

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