NFL Hall of Famer and former Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis said he feels “humiliated, embarrassed, powerless and angry” after authorities detained him on a plane Saturday following an incident with a flight attendant.
According to Davis, who published a lengthy statement on Instagram, the incident occurred on a United Airlines flight from Denver to Orange County, Calif. As he was sitting with his wife and three children, Davis said his son’s request for a cup of ice was either missed or ignored by a flight attendant. Davis “lightly tapped” on the attendant’s arm to get his attention, he said.
The flight attendant then shouted, “don’t hit me,” Davis said, before hurriedly exiting the area, leaving Davis, his family and the surrounding passengers confused.
“As we landed in Orange County, the pilot asked all passengers to remain seated, six FBI and law enforcement agents boarded the plane,” Davis said. “The FBI agents and local authorities proceeded directly to my seat and immediately placed me in handcuffs, while seated and without any explanation, in front of my wife and children while the entire flight of passengers watched in silence. 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.”
In a statement, United said the flight attendant has been removed from duty while the case is being reviewed.
“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,” the airline said.
The FBI office in Los Angeles confirmed that agents and law enforcement partners at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport responded to a report regarding an incident aboard a flight that required further investigation.
The FBI did not name Davis, but said the individual detained “was cooperative with law enforcement and was released to continue his travels.”
Davis’ attorney, Parker Stinar, said in an email to The Athletic that his firm planned to investigate the incident and had contacted United Airlines.
“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.
In his statement Monday, Davis said he was “still in shock” and that the incident prompted “hard conversations” with his family about what transpired.
“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,” he said.
Davis spent his entire seven-year NFL career with Denver, totaling 7,607 rushing yards and 65 total touchdowns in an injury-shortened career. He rushed for 2,008 yards and ran for 21 touchdowns in an MVP season in 1998, helping power the Broncos to back-to-back Super Bowl titles. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.
Required reading
(Photo: Dustin Bradford / Getty Images)
