A decades-long feud between rappers Ja Rule and 50 Cent escalated into a physical altercation of sorts on a Delta flight this past Sunday, February 8, 2026, turning a cross-country trip into an impromptu continuation of a rivalry that began in 1999. The incident, which unfolded on a flight from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), involved thrown pillows and a barrage of insults, according to multiple reports.
The initial spark appears to have been Ja Rule spotting associates of 50 Cent on board. Video footage obtained by TMZ shows Ja Rule confronting someone in the aisle, visibly agitated and using profanity. While the exact nature of the initial exchange remains somewhat unclear, the situation quickly devolved into a verbal dispute. According to HipHop DX, insults traded included “sucka-ass,” “old-ass,” and “police-ass.”
Ja Rule later took to X (formerly Twitter) to boast about the confrontation, writing, “I popped on these punks by myself on a plane lmao … I threw the pillow at yayo head cuz you soft… knocked ya hat all off s— was hilarious.” The post, made on , suggests Ja Rule views the incident as a personal victory.
However, the narrative differs from the perspective of those on the receiving end. Rapper Uncle Murda, a frequent associate of 50 Cent, posted on Instagram a photo of himself seated in what he claimed was Ja Rule’s assigned seat, with the caption, “Ja got off the plane lol I took his seat.” This suggests Ja Rule was removed from the flight following the altercation.
50 Cent himself weighed in on the situation via X, offering a scathing response to Ja Rule’s claims. His post, described as “unprintably profane” by the Los Angeles Times, accused Ja Rule of intentionally creating a scene to warrant removal from the flight.
Delta Airlines confirmed that a disagreement occurred on the flight, stating that cabin crew intervened and spoke with both parties involved. One passenger was rebooked on a different flight, though the airline did not specify which passenger.
The roots of this animosity stretch back over 25 years. While the precise origin of the feud is debated, CapitalXtra points to two potential catalysts: a reported incident where Ja Rule allegedly snubbed 50 Cent after a chain was stolen from him during a music video shoot, or a perceived slight from supergroup Murder Inc. – which included Jay-Z and DMX – during another video shoot.
Since then, the rivalry has played out through diss tracks, public statements and social media exchanges, punctuated by occasional periods of relative calm. Ja Rule himself acknowledged the detrimental effect of the feud on the New York hip-hop scene in a Vibe interview last year, suggesting it fractured the community. This latest incident, however, demonstrates that the tension remains palpable.
The incident on the Delta flight serves as a reminder that even after decades, some feuds refuse to fade. It also raises a simple, if somewhat humorous, question: if you have a long-standing beef with someone, perhaps commercial air travel isn’t the best option.
