Video has emerged of the moment former NFL star Terrell Davis was handcuffed and escorted off a United Airlines flight in a “disgusting display of injustice.”
Davis was aboard a flight with his wife and children that had just landed in Orange County from Denver when he was taken into custody by federal agents.
And a clip from Parker Stinar, of Davis’s legal team at Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, shows Davis, dressed in a white hoodie and gray baseball cap, being escorted off the flight.
The video does not show what led to Davis’ arrest, although an FBI officer can clearly be seen speaking to the former running back before he stood up.
The former Broncos star later alleged that during the flight, his son wanted a glass of ice and that a flight attendant ignored or did not listen to his request.
Terrell Davis is escorted off a plane by an FBI agent after a flight to Orange County.
Davis said she “calmly” reached back and “lightly” tapped the flight attendant on the arm to ask for a glass of ice.
The unidentified flight attendant then yelled “don’t hit me,” Davis claims, before leaving the cart to approach the front of the plane.
Davis and the flight attendant did not interact for the remainder of the flight, he added.
Upon landing in Orange County, the pilot asked all passengers to remain in their seats upon reaching the gate, and six FBI and law enforcement agents boarded the plane and reportedly took Davis into custody.
Davis, who described himself as “humiliated, ashamed, helpless and angry,” said he was given no explanation for being taken into custody.
He was eventually released after questioning, as officers “correctly” determined that the allegations against him were “inaccurate.”
He later told ABC: Good morning america“I felt like my dignity had been taken away from me in front of my children and my family. And I want United to be held accountable for this.”
Davis’ wife, Tamiko, added to GMA that she “thought it was a joke, because what else could it be?”
Davis later said he felt “humiliated, ashamed, helpless and angry.”
Davis, seen during Super Bowl XXXII, enjoyed a Hall of Fame career as a running back.
Davis’ wife, Tamiko, added to GMA that she “thought it was a joke, because what else could it be?”
“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.
Davis’ lawyers at Stinar, Gould, Grieco & Hensley called the incident “appalling and disturbing, to say the least” in a previous statement to Mail Sport.
“We plan to fully investigate the events that took place and are actively contacting United Airlines regarding this matter,” the statement continued.
Mr. Davis’ statement speaks for itself and we can all agree that no person should be subjected to this type of injustice and humiliation, especially in front of his children and wife.
United told CNN it had “removed the flight attendant from her duties while we review this matter closely.”