‘I hated Conor McGregor UFC fights after I was air hostess – Vegas journeys have been so harmful’

On Nov 26, 2024

Disgraced former UFC champion Conor McGregor wants to return to fighting – and this could spell bad news for flight attendants.

That is of course assuming anyone would want to fly overseas to support the Irishman after he lost a civil case against a woman who alleged he raped her. And it is also assuming The Notorious would be welcomed back into professional mixed martial arts.

McGregor admitted “mistakes” after his reputation was tarnished in Dublin’s High Court but the renowned trash talker wrote on X on Monday night (November 25): “That’s it. No more. Getting back to the gym – the fight game awaits.”

Conor McGregor outside the High Court with his partner Dee Devlin and mum Margaret
(Image: Collins Photos)

There was a time, particularly during his crusade to becoming UFC featherweight and lightweight champion, where thousands would travel from Europe to see him perform in Las Vegas.

And one woman who remembers those flights all too well is former air hostess Skye Taylor, who spent 17 years travelling around the world. The mum, 48, eventually quit Virgin Atlantic and the industry after gruelling hours left her with insomnia.

And despite missing some parts of the job, being on board ahead of Conor McGregor fights is something she is glad to leave in the past.

Describing what they were like to the Daily Star, she said: “There are a lot of crew who campaign to have certain routes where alcohol is not supplied to people because it used to get that bad. For us it would be mainly the Thursday Vegas and LA flights and sometimes random routes like the Caribbean and stuff like that.

The mum was left insomnia because of gruelling shifts in the sky
(Image: Skye Taylor/SWNS)

“The main problem I think you have is McGregor fights and big events in Vegas where it is rowdy and it is mainly men on the flight. I have had loads of incidents of just rudeness, they don’t listen, they congregate in the cabin and it is really really dangerous.”

Skye, who is from north London, continued: “I’ve never been attacked, but verbally? All the time. It is horrible up there. Sometimes it feels like it is going to get out of control and it is not a nice feeling.

“I’ve had people hide alcohol, smoke vapes in the toilet, being really rude to the cabin crew, trying to grab the cabin crew, people screaming in your face. You go out to the galley and people are helping themselves in the bars. It can be absolutely horrendous.”

Before getting back to fighting as he outlined, McGregor is still dealing with the fallout of being found liable of assaulting Nikita Hand, who accused him of raping her in a hotel in Dublin in 2018.

He has been ordered to pay her more than £200,000 in damages and he has also been axed from the ‘Hitman’ game.

Speaking on X, he said: “People want to hear from me, I needed time. I know I made mistakes. Six years ago, I should have never responded to her outreaches.

“I should have shut the party down. I should never have stepped out on the woman I love the most in the world. That’s all on me. As much as I regret it, everything that happened that night was consensual and all the witnesses present swore to that under oath.

“I have instructed my legal team to appeal the decision. I can’t go back and I will move forward. I am beyond grateful to my family, friends and supporters all over the world who have stayed by my side. That’s it. No more. Getting back to the gym – the fight game awaits!”