Denver Broncos Hall of Famer Terrell Davis is “in shock” after being handcuffed on United Airlines flight

FBI agents took Denver Broncos Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis into custody over the weekend after an incident that occurred during a commercial aircraft flight. The flight was a United Airlines flight and took off from Denver to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.

Davis addressed the situation on social media after his release, saying he was “shocked” by what happened. He says he was trying to get a flight attendant to help him at the request of a family member sitting next to him, and when Davis tapped him on the arm the flight attendant responded by saying he was “rude.” ” Behaved. Try to get his attention.

The FBI’s Los Angeles office did not name Davis in a statement released about the action it took. He said his agents and some local police in Orange County “responded to a report regarding an incident that occurred on a flight that required further investigation.” He said the man who was detained was “cooperative with law enforcement and has been released to continue his travels.”

Davis says she is “shocked by the tragic events.” He says he was traveling with his wife, his two sons and his daughter.

“During beverage service, my son politely requested a cup of ice. The flight attendant either did not hear his request or ignored him and moved on from our row. I calmly reached behind him and got his attention again. Patted his arm gently to ask for a cup of ice for my son,” Davis wrote in the social media post.

Davis says that as he tapped the flight attendant on the arm, the man yelled “Don’t hit me” and walked to another part of the plane. Davis says the flight attendant was “incredibly rude and obviously wrong in accusing me of hitting him” and that he did not interact with the attendant during the rest of the flight.

Davis says that before deboarding the passengers, the captain asked everyone to remain seated and then law enforcement officers came on the plane, handcuffed Davis and removed him from the plane without explanation.

Shortly after the interrogation at the airport began, Davis says the FBI told him they agreed with Davis that the flight attendant had made false allegations. He says he apologized to her and then released her.

He says he is “humiliated, embarrassed, powerless and angry.”

“I refuse to stand by without speaking out on this disgusting display of injustice and reprehensible behavior by United Airlines,” Davis said.

Davis said his legal team is reaching out to United Airlines.

“I demand a thorough and proper investigation into the flight attendant who blatantly lied and caused undue harm to me and my family,” he said.

An attorney for Davis said that the FBI interrogated other passengers and United crew before apologizing and letting Davis go. He says that they are probably litigating this matter. Davis said in his post that it was a traumatic experience for his wife and children that “cannot be made up for.”

In his years after the NFL, Davis has become a successful businessman. He is a partner in Alpha 1, a financial firm.

“I don’t really see any long-term impact on Terrell or what he’s doing,” says Darrin Duber-Smith, senior lecturer in marketing at Metropolitan State University of Denver.

Davis retired from the NFL in 2001.

Dubber-Smith said, “She’s been in the culture a very long time, so you know, she’s not a current star. She has a business. It’s not exactly famous, it’s not a consumer business.” “He doesn’t have a company that makes consumer goods, so he doesn’t have to worry about being excluded or anything. It’s very clear that he was actually the victim in this whole thing.”

United Airlines will have to make amends, however, with Duber-Smith saying, “I think the reputation issue at this point is a more unifying issue than anything Terrell Davis has here…United has done the right thing so far.” But they have to have a conversation with the TD, see what he wants, because, you know, being detained is something you never forget.

Following publication of this article, United Media Relations provided the following response to CBS Colorado’s inquiry:

This is clearly not the type of travel experience we strive to provide, and we have contacted Mr Davis’ team to apologise. We have reviewed the matter closely and removed the flight attendant from duty.

Davis signed with the Broncos as an undrafted free agent in the mid-1990s and retired due to injuries after seven seasons. He is in the Broncos Ring of Fame as well as the Pro Football Hall of Fame. During his pro career he was named NFL MVP once and Super Bowl MVP in Super Bowl XXXII. He had a 2,000 rushing yard season in 1998, which very few running backs have accomplished.