Former NFL running back Terrell Davis says he was recently “humiliated” after an interaction with a United Airlines flight attendant led to him being handcuffed and removed from the aircraft in front of his wife and children.
On July 15, the 51-year-old former Denver Broncos player described in an Instagram post how his son's request for a cup of ice from a flight attendant led to the football player being escorted off of a United Airlines flight from Denver to Orange County.
He said the incident occurred July 13 while he was traveling with his wife, Tamiko Nash, their two sons and their daughter.
“During the beverage service, my son politely requested a cup of ice,” Davis recalled. “The flight attendant either didn’t hear or ignored his request and continued past our row.”
Davis said he attempted to get the flight attendant’s attention for his son by “calmly” reaching back to “lightly” tap his arm.
“His response and the subsequent events were shocking,” Davis continued, recalling how the attendant accused the football player of becoming physical and shouting, “Don’t hit me.”
“I was confused, as were the passengers in front of me who witnessed the exchange,” Davis’s statement continued. “I thought nothing of it other than this particular employee was incredibly rude and blatantly wrong in his accusations of me hitting him.”
Davis noted that there were no other interactions with the attendant for the remainder of the flight. However, when the flight landed in Orange County, he said six FBI and law enforcement agents boarded the flight and approached his seat.
“The FBI agents and local authorities proceeded directly to my seat and immediately placed me in handcuffs, while seated and without any explanation, in front of my wife and children while the entire flight of passengers watched in silence,” he continued.
Davis said he was left feeling “humiliated, embarrassed, powerless” as passengers recorded him being “paraded off of the plane in handcuffs by the officers. “
According to Davis, he was questioned by the agents, who ultimately determined that the flight attendant had been “inaccurate” about his accusations and “profusely apologized” to him.
“I have yet to hear anything from United Airlines,” Davis said towards the end of his statement. “The traumatizing experience of my two sons, my daughter, and my wife watching me being placed in handcuffs — without due process or any explanation — cannot be undone. At this very moment, not even 48 hours later, we as a family are having to have hard conversations with each other about what transpired and answer the many questions that my children have.”
In response to the football player's claims, United Airlines said it had contacted Davis to extend an apology.
“This is clearly not the kind of travel experience we strive to provide, and we have reached out to Mr. Davis’s team to apologize,” a United statement obtained by NBC News says. “We have removed the flight attendant from duty while we closely review this matter.”
According to NBC News, the FBI confirmed working with local law enforcement in response to an incident aboard a flight at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, although it would not confirm Davis was involved.
“FBI Agents and law enforcement partners at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport responded to a report about an incident that had occurred aboard a flight which required further investigation,” the statement to NBC News reads. “One individual was detained for questioning, was cooperative with law enforcement and was released to continue his travels.”
