Photo: Getty Images
Former NFL star Terrell Davis said he's "still in shock" after he was handcuffed by FBI agents and escorted off his flight.
The incident unfolded on Davis' United Airlines flight from Denver to Santa Ana, California on Saturday (July 13). Davis was accompanied by his wife and three children when a flight attendant claimed Davis hit him.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Davis said he had "lightly tapped" the flight attendant to get his attention.
“During the beverage service, my son politely requested a cup of ice. The flight attendant either didn't hear or ignored his request and continued past our row,” Davis said. “I calmly reached behind me and lightly tapped his arm to get his attention to again ask for a cup of ice for my son. His response and the events that followed should stun all of us.”
The flight attendant allegedly shouted "Don't hit me" before he left the beverage cart “to hurriedly approach the front of the plane.” Davis said he and other passengers were "confused" by the attendant's behavior.
“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.
After the plane landed in Santa Ana, passengers were told to stay in their seats as “six FBI and law enforcement agents boarded," Davis said in his statement.
“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,” he said.
Davis then said he was removed from the flight and questioned by authorities about the incident.
“It was rightfully determined by the agents that this flight attendant was inaccurate in his accusations and the agents profusely apologized even offering to support me and my family in any way possible,” Davis said.
An FBI spokesperson confirmed that agents "responded to a report regarding an incident that had occurred aboard a flight which required further investigation," per PEOPLE.
One individual was detained for questioning, was cooperative with law enforcement, and was released to continue his travels," the spokesperson said.
Davis said the incident was a "traumatizing experience" that left him feeling “humiliated, embarrassed, powerless and angry."
According to a United Airlines spokesperson, the flight attendant involved in the incident was "removed from duty."
“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,” a statement from the airline reads. “We have removed the flight attendant from duty while we closely review this matter.”
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