Pro Football Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis says he was falsely accused of being beaten by a flight attendant on a United Airlines flight and then wrongfully handcuffed in front of his family.
Davis, a two-time Super Bowl champion as an All-Pro running back for the Denver Broncos, spoke about the incident on Instagram on Monday, saying it happened while he was flying with his wife and three children from Denver to Orange County, California.
“During drink service, my son politely asked for ice,” Davis wrote. “The flight attendant either did not hear or ignored his request and continued walking past our row.”
“I calmly reached back and tapped him on the arm, reminding him to ask for more ice for our son. His response and what happened next surprised us all.”
Davis wrote that the attendant accused him of hitting him.
“He yelled, ‘Don’t hit me,’ got off the cart and quickly approached the front of the aircraft,” Davis continued. “I was confused, and so was the passenger in front of me who witnessed the exchange.”
“I thought nothing of it other than that this employee was incredibly rude and the accusation that I had punched him was patently false. I had no further interaction with him during the flight.”
Once the plane landed, the FBI became involved, Davis wrote.
“Upon landing in Orange County, the pilot instructed all passengers to remain in their seats and six FBI and law enforcement agents boarded the plane,” Davis continued. “The FBI agents and local authorities proceeded directly to my seat and immediately handcuffed me, without explanation, in front of my wife and children, while all passengers looked on in silence.”
“I was then handcuffed by officers, escorted off the plane and filmed by multiple passengers as I was escorted off the plane.
“I felt, and still do, humiliated, ashamed, powerless and angry.”
No video of the incident has been released on social media.
Terrell Davis accused United Airlines of “deplorable behavior” on his flight from Denver to Orange County (AP Photo/David Zarbowski)
Davis added that during questioning, investigators determined the flight attendant’s “accusations were inaccurate” and that she received an apology. He wrote that he has not yet heard anything from United Airlines.
“I refuse to stand by without speaking out about this abhorrent injustice and deplorable treatment by United Airlines,” Davis continued, writing that his legal team plans to lobby the airline.
Since Davis’ Instagram post, United Airlines has released statements to multiple media outlets saying it has contacted Davis and apologized.
“This is clearly not the travel experience we strive to provide. We have reached out to Mr. Davis’ team and apologized,” United’s statement said.
The Los Angeles FBI office did not name Davis but confirmed in a media statement that agents and law enforcement partners were dispatched to John Wayne Airport in Orange County in response to a report of an incident on an aircraft.
“One individual was detained for questioning but was cooperative with law enforcement and was released to continue their travels,” the FBI statement said.
Davis, 51, played seven seasons in the NFL, all with the Broncos, from 1995-2001. He played alongside quarterback John Elway on teams that won consecutive Super Bowls starting in the 1997 and 1998 seasons. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.