Video footage has surfaced capturing the moment former NFL star Terrell Davis was handcuffed and escorted off a United Airlines flight, an incident he described as a “disgusting display of injustice.”
Davis was traveling with his wife and children on a flight that had just landed in Orange County from Denver when federal agents detained him. The video, shared by Parker Stinar of Davis’ legal team at Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, shows Davis, dressed in a white hoodie and gray baseball cap, being led off the plane. The footage does not reveal what led to his detainment, but an FBI officer can be seen speaking to Davis before he stands up.
According to Davis, the incident began when his son requested a cup of ice from a flight attendant. When the attendant did not respond, Davis says he “calmly” reached back and “lightly” tapped the attendant on the arm to make the request. The flight attendant, a male, allegedly shouted, “don’t hit me,” and then moved to the front of the plane. Davis claims that there were no further interactions between him and the flight attendant for the rest of the flight.
Upon landing, the pilot requested that all passengers remain seated. Shortly after, six FBI and law enforcement agents boarded the plane and took Davis into custody. Davis described feeling “humiliated, embarrassed, powerless, and angry,” noting that he was not given any explanation for his detainment. He was eventually released after questioning, as agents determined the claims against him were “inaccurate.”
New video just released this A.M. showing the moment @Broncos legend @Terrell_Davis was handcuffed by FBI agent & removed from @united flight from Denver to CA. I talked to Davis’ lawyer. Hear from him at 11 a.m. on @DenverChannel.
đź“·: Stinar, Gould, Grieco & Hensley Law pic.twitter.com/Ems4E7fsz5
— Amy Wadas (@AmyWadas) July 23, 2024
Speaking to ABC’s Good Morning America, Davis expressed his dismay: “I felt like my dignity was stripped from me right in front of my children and my family. And I want United to be held accountable for this.” His wife, Tamiko, initially thought the situation was a joke. “Terrell, are you joking? Is this a prank?” she recalled asking him. When he quietly responded, “No, it’s not,” she looked at her sons, who were watching their father being handcuffed.
Davis’ attorneys at Stinar, Gould, Grieco & Hensley called the incident “appalling and disturbing to say the least” in a statement to Mail Sport. They vowed to thoroughly investigate the events and are actively contacting United Airlines. “Mr. Davis’ statement speaks for itself, and we can all agree no person should be subjected to this kind of injustice and humiliation, especially in front of their children and wife,” the statement continued.
Davis also put out a statement on social media.
Please see my statement regarding the recent humiliating, disturbing and traumatizing incident in front of our children aboard @united https://t.co/tRQ7fENdOZ
Please contact @sgghlaw for any inquiries.
— Terrell Davis (@Terrell_Davis) July 15, 2024
United Airlines responded to CNN by stating that they had “removed the flight attendant from duty while we closely review this matter.”
Never-before-seen video shows law enforcement agents handcuff Terrell Davis aboard a United Airlines flight earlier this month.
It happened after Davis says he “lightly” tapped a flight attendant to ask for a cup of ice and alleges the flight attendant shouted, “Don’t hit me.” pic.twitter.com/uJJxKAYHoI
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) July 23, 2024
