Denver Broncos Hall of Famer Terrell Davis ‘in shock’ after being handcuffed on United Airlines flight

FBI agents arrested Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis over the weekend after an incident on a commercial flight. The flight was operated by United Airlines and was traveling from Denver to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.

Davis explained the situation on social media after his release, saying he was “stunned” by what happened. He said he was trying to convince a flight attendant to help him with a request from a family member sitting next to him, and that the flight attendant acted “rudely” when he tapped her on the arm to try to get her attention.

The FBI’s Los Angeles office did not identify Davis by name in a statement about the action. It said its agents and some local Orange County police officers “responded to a report of an incident on board an aircraft that required further investigation.” It added that the person arrested “cooperated with law enforcement and was released to continue his travel.”

Davis said he was “in shock from the traumatic events.” He said he traveled with his wife, two sons and daughter.

“During beverage service, my son politely asked for a glass of ice. The flight attendant either did not hear or ignored his request and continued past our row. I calmly reached behind me and lightly tapped his arm to get his attention and again ask for a glass of ice for my son,” Davis wrote in the social media post.

Davis said that immediately after tapping the flight attendant on the arm, the man yelled, “Don’t hit me,” and moved to another part of the plane. Davis said the flight attendant was “incredibly rude and clearly wrong in her accusations that I hit him,” and that he did not interact with her again for the remainder of the flight.

Before passengers were allowed to get off the plane, Davis says the captain asked everyone to remain seated and that’s when law enforcement boarded the plane, handcuffed Davis and escorted him off the plane without providing a reason.

Shortly after the airport interrogation began, Davis said the FBI told him they agreed with him that the flight attendant had made an inaccurate accusation. He said they apologized to him and then released him.

He says he is “humiliated, embarrassed, helpless and angry.”

“I refuse to stand by and watch this disgusting display of injustice and deplorable treatment by United Airlines,” Davis said.

Davis said his legal team is in the process of contacting United Airlines.

“I demand a thorough and proper investigation into the flight attendant who blatantly lied and caused undue harm to me and my family,” he said.

Following the publication of this article, United Media Relations provided the following response to CBS Colorado’s request for information:

It is clear that this is not the kind of travel experience we want to provide, and we have reached out to Mr. Davis’ team to apologize. We have relieved the flight attendant of his duties while we carefully review this matter.