Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis has spoken out about being wrongfully handcuffed while getting off a plane in front of his family while heading to a vacation in California.
On Monday, the 51-year-old shared a statement about the “humiliating, disturbing and traumatizing” experience on a United Airlines flight from Denver to Orange County over the weekend.
Days later, Davis recounted the story in depth in an interview with ABC’s Good Morning America. During his appearance, the former Super Bowl MVP revealed that he has yet to hear back from the airline following the incident.
“I felt demoralized. I felt embarrassed, humiliated,” the two-time Super Bowl champion shared. “I felt like my dignity had been taken away from me in front of my kids and my family. And I want United to be held accountable for this.”
Davis, who was traveling with his wife, two sons and daughter, tried to flag down a flight attendant after his son asked for a glass of ice. In his Instagram post, Davis wrote that an attendant “either didn’t hear or ignored his request and continued past our row.”
Terrell Davis spoke about being handcuffed and escorted off a United Airlines flight
“I calmly walked over and tapped the assistant’s arm to get his attention and ask for a glass of ice for my son again,” Davis continued. “His response and the events that followed should leave us all stunned.”
“He yelled, ‘Don’t hit me,’ and got off the cart and quickly walked to the front of the plane. I was confused, as were the passengers in front of me who witnessed the exchange. I thought nothing of it other than that this particular employee was incredibly rude and completely wrong to accuse me of hitting him.”
Davis added that he did not interact with the attendant for the remainder of the flight. However, after the plane landed in Orange County, the pilot asked passengers to remain seated before FBI and law enforcement officers approached and handcuffed Davis before escorting him off the plane.
The incident was “recorded by several passengers,” Davis said.
Davis’ wife, Tamiko, told GMA that she “thought it was a joke, because what else could it be?”
Davis was removed from the flight in Orange County, California, while traveling with his family.
The former Denver Bronco was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2017.
“Terrell, are you kidding me? Is this a joke?” And he just quietly said, “No, it’s not.” And I was looking at my kids, who were sitting right next to him, watching their dad get handcuffed.
“We were left to fend for ourselves on a flight with everyone watching us,” Tamiko continued.
“During questioning, the officers correctly determined that this flight attendant had been inaccurate in her allegations and apologized profusely,” Davis wrote.
United told CNN on Monday night that it had “removed the flight attendant from her duties while we review this matter closely.”
“Clearly, this is not the type of travel experience we strive to provide, and we have reached out to Mr. Davis’ team to apologize,” United Airlines’ email reads.
However, Davis told GMA that the airline has not contacted him directly to address the incident.
Davis won two Super Bowl championships in Denver and was named MVP in 1998.
The former running back spent his entire seven-year NFL career in the Mile High City.
“They haven’t reached out to me to apologize. They have reached out to my lawyer, but I haven’t heard from them directly. So, to me, that’s a problem.”
“The traumatic experience of my two children, daughter and wife watching them being handcuffed, without due process or any explanation, cannot be undone,” Davis’ Instagram post read.
The FBI office in Los Angeles acknowledged Monday that the person detained at John Wayne Airport for questioning “cooperated with law enforcement and was released to continue his travels.”
Parker Stinar, managing partner of the Chicago-based law firm representing Davis, wrote that the incident “is appalling and disturbing, to say the least,” in an email to CNN.
“We plan to fully investigate the events that occurred and are actively contacting United Airlines regarding this matter,” Stinar wrote.