NFL’s Terrell Davis ‘humiliated’ after being handcuffed, detained on United flight

NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis said he feels “humiliated, embarrassed, powerless, and angry” aft he was handcuffed and removed from a United Airlines formation connected Saturday.

Davis, a two-time Super Bowl champion, said he was travelling from Denver to Orange County, Calif., pinch his wife, 2 sons and his girl erstwhile nan “traumatizing” incident took place.

In a connection shared to societal media, nan ex-Denver Broncos moving backmost said nan altercation began complete his son’s petition to a formation attendant for a solid of ice.

Davis, 51, wrote nan formation attendant “either didn’t perceive aliases ignored” his son’s inquiry, truthful Davis “calmly” tapped nan attendant’s limb to inquire for ice.

“He shouted ‘don’t deed me’ and near nan cart to hurriedly attack nan beforehand of nan plane,” Davis wrote.

Though Davis claimed he did not interact pinch nan unit personnel for nan remainder of nan flight, he said he was handcuffed and “paraded” disconnected nan level by six FBI officers upon landing.

United Airlines said they person already reached retired to Davis’ squad to apologize for nan incident.

Davis said he, arsenic good arsenic nan different passengers nearby, were “confused” by nan formation attendant’s reaction.

“During questioning, it was rightfully wished by nan agents that this formation attendant was inaccurate successful his accusations and nan agents profusely apologized moreover offering to support maine and my family successful immoderate measurement possible,” he wrote.

“The traumatizing acquisition of my 2 sons, my daughter, and my woman watching maine beryllium placed successful handcuffs — without owed process aliases immoderate mentation — cannot beryllium undone,” Davis maintained. “I garbage to guidelines by without speaking retired connected this disgusting show of injustice and deplorable curen by United Airlines.”

Davis blamed nan hose unit personnel for placing “undue harm connected maine and my family.”

In a connection to NBC News, United Airlines said it is investigating nan incident.

“This is intelligibly not nan benignant of recreation acquisition we strive to provide, and we person reached retired to Mr. Davis’s squad to apologize,” nan hose said. “We person removed nan formation attendant from duty while we intimately reappraisal this matter.”

An FBI spokesperson confirmed nan incident to ABC News and said Davis was detained complete nan incident. He was “cooperative pinch rule enforcement and was released to proceed his travels,” nan spokesperson detailed.

Davis’ lawyer, Parker Stinar, told nan outlet he will “thoroughly investigate” whether nan incident was racially motivated.

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“Terrell’s evidently a Black man; this formation attendant was not a Black man,” nan lawyer said. “Based connected nan events I person heard and learned frankincense far, [race] is surely a constituent successful our investigation.”

Davis and his wife, Tamiko, appeared connected Good Morning America connected Wednesday wherever nan ex-NFLer called nan full ordeal “bizarre.” He said United contacted his lawyer to apologize, but maintained he has not heard from nan institution directly.

The mates said nan rule enforcement officers boarded nan level to handcuff Davis while he was still seated. They allegedly did not show him why he was being detained.

“I thought it was a joke, because what other could it be?” Tamiko said of seeing her hubby successful cuffs.

She fought backmost tears arsenic she described really their sons, ages 13 and 11, witnessed nan incident without knowing really to help.

Davis wants United to return “more accountability” for nan situation. He said he feels arsenic if his “dignity was stripped from me, correct successful beforehand of my children and my family.”

Davis became a beloved Denver Broncos alum aft joining nan NFL squad arsenic a 1995 sixth-round draught pick. He stayed pinch nan squad passim his full seven-year career. He earned kudos arsenic nan NFL MVP for nan 1998 play and was besides named nan Super Bowl XXXII MVP. Davis retired during nan 2002 preseason because of an wounded but was later elected to nan Hall of Fame successful 2017.