This story was originally published by Dead Spin
United Airlines apologized to Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis on Tuesday for his mistreatment on a recent flight.
Davis, 51, was handcuffed and removed from a plane Saturday in Santa Ana, Calif., after a flight attendant accused the former Denver Broncos star of hitting him.
Davis released a statement Monday on Instagram explaining that he had “lightly tapped” the flight attendant’s arm to get his attention, only to hear him respond, “Don’t hit me!”
Davis said FBI agents and local authorities boarded the plane at Orange County’s John Wayne Airport and placed him in handcuffs in front of his wife and three children and then removed him from the flight.
“I was — and remain — humiliated, embarrassed, powerless, and angry,” Davis wrote.
After explaining the incident to law enforcement, Davis said they determined the flight attendant was “inaccurate” and the agents apologized to him and let him go.
United Airlines issued an apology and said the flight attendant has been “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,” United said in a statement. “We have removed the flight attendant from duty while we closely review this matter.”
Davis played from 1995-2001 with the Broncos, who drafted him in the sixth round in 1995. He rushed for 7,607 yards and 60 touchdowns, including 2,008 yards and 21 TDs during his MVP season in 1998. He helped Denver win Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2017
–Field Level Media
