Hall of Fame RB Terrell Davis says he was placed in handcuffs on United Airlines flight
Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis said he is "still in shock over the traumatizing events" on board a flight to California where he said he was placed in handcuffs.
The two-time Super Bowl champion said in an Instagram post that during a United Airlines flight with his wife and three children from Denver to Orange County on Saturday, his son asked for a cup of ice during the beverage service. The flight attendant didn't respond to the request, so Davis said he "calmly reached behind me and lightly tapped his arm." The flight attendant allegedly shouted "don't hit me" and left the beverage cart to go to the front of the plane. Davis said he and other passengers were confused.
"I thought nothing of it other than this particular employee was incredibly rude and blatantly wrong in his accusations of me hitting him," he said. "I did not see or interact with him further for the duration of the flight."
The former NFL MVP said when the flight landed, the pilot asked all passengers to remain seated. Then six FBI and law enforcement agents boarded the plane and placed him in handcuffs.
"I was then removed from the flight while being recorded by multiple passengers as I was paraded off of the plane in handcuffs by the officers," Davis said. "I was − and remain − humiliated, embarrassed, powerless and angry."
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Officials confirm Terrell Davis incident
Davis said he was taken by authorities for questioning, and alleged afterward "it was rightfully determined by the agents this flight attendant was inaccurate in his accusations and the agents profusely apologized even offering to support me and my family in any way possible."
Spokespersons for the FBI and John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, where the flight landed, confirmed the incident to USA TODAY Sports.
"FBI agents and law enforcement partners at Orange County's John Wayne Airport responded to a report regarding an incident that had occurred aboard a flight which required further investigation. One individual was detained for questioning, was cooperative with law enforcement and was released to continue his travels," both spokespersons said in a statement.
Davis added he hasn't heard anything from United Airlines but he refuses to be silent about "this disgusting display of injustice and deplorable treatment by United Airlines."
"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," Davis said.
United Airlines apologizes for incident
United Airlines apologized for the incident in a statement to USA TODAY Sports. The flight attendant involved in the matter has been removed from duty as it reviews the incident.
"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," United Airlines said.
His legal team at Stinar, Gould, Grieco & Hensley will be in contact with United Airlines, he added, demanding an investigation into the flight attendant. Parker Stinar of the law firm said in a statement to USA TODAY Sports that the legal team plans to investigate the incident and are contacting United Airlines about it.
"Mr. Davis' statement speaks for itself, and we can all agree no person should be subjected to this kind of injustice and humiliation, especially in front of their children and wife," Stinar said.
Davis played seven seasons for the Denver Broncos from 1995-2001. He was a star in Denver, winning the NFL MVP in 1998 and NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1996 and 1998. He was part of the Super Bowl 32 and 33 winning teams, and he was named Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl 32. He's the all-time leading rusher in Broncos franchise history and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.