NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis says he was handcuffed and removed from United flight (2024)

Former NFL player Terrell Davis said Monday, July 15, 2024, he was “humiliated" after being handcuffed and removed from a United Airlines flight, then later apologized to by law enforcement, over the weekend. Here, Davis delivers his speech during induction ceremonies at the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Saturday, Aug. 5, 2017, in Canton, Ohio. David Richard/AP hide caption

toggle caption

David Richard/AP

NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis is speaking out after he says he was wrongfully handcuffed and removed from a United Airlines flight over the weekend following an incident with a flight attendant onboard.

In an Instagram post uploaded Monday, the former Denver Broncos running back says he and his family were onboard a United Airlines flight from Denver to Santa Ana, Calif., when the incident occurred on Saturday.

Davis says that the incident happened after his son requested a cup of ice during the beverage service part of the flight. The flight attendant onboard, according to Davis, “either didn’t hear or ignored [my son’s] request and continued past our row.”

“I calmly reached behind me and lightly tapped (the attendant’s) arm to get his attention to again ask for a cup of ice for my son,” Davis wrote. “His response and the events that followed should stun all of us."

During the exchange, Davis alleges the flight attendant — who has not been publicly identified — shouted, “Don't hit me,” and left the beverage cart to “hurriedly approach the front of the plane.” Davis says that he recalled both himself and other passengers onboard being “confused” after witnessing the reaction from the flight attendant.

“I thought nothing of it other than this particular employee was incredibly rude and blatantly wrong in his accusations of me hitting him. I did not see or interact with him further for the duration of the flight,” he added.

The retired NFL player said that once the plane landed in California, six FBI and other law enforcement agents boarded the plane and placed him in handcuffs. 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."

“During questioning, it was rightfully determined by the agents that this flight attendant was inaccurate in his accusation and the agents profusely apologized, even offering to support me and my family in any way possible," he wrote.

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

While they did not confirm specific names or details involving the investigation, the agency told NPR that an individual was "detained for questioning, was cooperative with law enforcement and was released to continue his travels."

United Airlines tells NPR that it has removed the flight attendant from their duties while the airline closely reviews the incident. The airline adds that 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 reached out to 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 took place on a United Airlines flight concerning Mr. Davis is appalling and disturbing to say the least," Stinar said. "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."

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

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