NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis says he was handcuffed and removed from flight: NPR

NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis says he was wrongly handcuffed and escorted off a United Airlines flight over the weekend after an incident with a flight attendant.

In an Instagram post uploaded on Monday, the former Denver Broncos running back said he and his family were aboard a United Airlines flight from Denver to Santa Ana, California, when the incident happened on Saturday.

Davis says the incident occurred when his son requested a cup of ice during in-flight beverage service. According to Davis, the flight attendant on the plane either did not hear or ignored (my son’s) request and continued past our row.

Davis wrote, “I calmly reached behind me and lightly tapped (the attendant’s) arm to draw her attention back to asking for a cup of ice for my son.” “His reaction and the events that followed will leave us all shocked.”

During the conversation, Davis alleged the flight attendant – who has not been publicly identified – yelled, “Don’t hit me,” and left the beverage cart to “quickly get to the front of the plane.” Davis says he recalls that he and other passengers on board were “confused” after seeing the flight attendant’s reaction.

“I thought nothing more than that this particular employee was incredibly rude and his accusation of me hitting him was absolutely false. I neither saw him nor talked to him during the flight.

The retired NFL player said that once the plane landed in California, six FBI and other law enforcement agents boarded the plane and handcuffed him. He alleges that he was removed from the flight in front of his wife and children.

Davis says the incident left him “humiliated, embarrassed, powerless and angry”.

He wrote, “During the interrogation, it was correctly determined by the agents that this flight attendant was wrong in her accusation and the agents apologized profusely, even going so far as to offer support to me and my family in any way possible.” Also offered.”

In an email to NPR, the FBI confirmed that agents and local law enforcement officials at John Wayne Airport responded to a report about “an incident that occurred in flight” that required “further investigation.”

Although they did not confirm specific names or details related to the investigation, the agency told NPR that one person was “detained for questioning, is cooperating with law enforcement and has been released to continue his journey.” Was done.”

United Airlines told NPR that it has removed the flight attendants from their duties while the airline closely reviews the incident. The airline says it will continue to work with Davis’ team to discuss the incident.

“This is clearly not the kind of travel experience we strive to provide, and we have contacted Mr. Davis’s team to apologize,” the airline said in a statement.

Parker Stinar, the attorney representing Davis, called for an immediate investigation into the flight attendant. In a statement to NPR, he said his team plans to investigate the incident and will be in contact with United.

“What happened on the United Airlines flight with respect to Mr. Davis is appalling and disturbing to say the least,” Stinar said. “Mr Davis’s statement speaks for itself, and we can all agree that no man should be subjected to such injustice and humiliation, especially in front of his children and wife.”

Davis, who played seven seasons for the Denver Broncos from 1995 to 2001, is one of eight running backs in the NFL who have rushed for more than 2,000 yards in a season.

He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.