Terrell Davis, the NFL Hall of Famer and former Denver Broncos running back, said he was handcuffed and removed from a plane that was headed to Southern California after a flight attendant made an accusation.
“I am still in shock over the traumatizing events that occurred Saturday aboard a United flight from Denver to Orange County with my wife, two sons, and daughter,” Davis said on Instagram.
Davis said the incident happened after his son asked for a cup of ice during the period when refreshments are offered on a flight from Denver to Santa Ana.
“The flight attendant either didn’t hear or ignored his request and continued past our row,” Davis said. “I calmly reached behind me and lightly tapped his arm to get his attention to again ask for a cup of ice for my son. His response and the events that followed should stun all of us.”
“He shouted ‘don’t hit me’ and left the cart to hurriedly approach the front of the plane. I was confused, as were the passengers in front of me who witnessed the exchange,” Davis continued. “I thought nothing of it other than this particular employee was incredibly rude and blatantly wrong in his accusations of me hitting him. I did not see or interact with him further for the duration of the flight.”
“I was — and remain — humiliated, embarrassed, powerless, and angry,” he said. “During questioning, it was rightfully determined by the agents that this flight attendant was inaccurate in his accusation and the agents profusely apologized, even offering to support me and my family in any way possible.”
Davis said after the plane landed in California, several FBI and law enforcement agents boarded the plane, put him in handcuffs and removed him from the plane.
Davis demanded an investigation into the flight attendant “who blatantly lied and placed undue harm on me and my family.”
Per NBC News report on Monday, United Airlines sent a statement to NBC News saying: “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. We have removed the flight attendant from duty while we closely review this matter.”
More on the incident and investigation.
