Terrell Davis says United banned him after the flight accident. The airline says the ban has already been lifted

DENVER (AP) — Pro Football Hall of Fame member Terrell Davis on Tuesday released an email from United Airlines saying he was banned from flying with the airline until an investigation into an incident earlier this month was completed. But United officials said they had already told Davis’ team that the ban had been lifted weeks ago.

The conflicting messages further fueled tensions. Davis’ attorney Parker Stinar denied that Davis had received notice of the lifting of the ban and called for a “restructuring of United’s leadership.”

The back-and-forth began two weeks ago when Davis, who formerly played for the Denver Broncos, said he was escorted off a plane in handcuffs on July 13 for lightly tapping a flight attendant on the arm, after which she said, “Don’t hit me” and quickly walked away.

Davis, who was later released with an apology, accused United of “humiliating” him and called for an investigation.

“My family will never forget me, nor will I ever forget being led off a plane in handcuffs,” Davis wrote in his Instagram post on Tuesday.

The day after the incident, United’s email banning Davis was created and sent, United said in a statement. The ban was lifted the following day, which United said was communicated to Davis’ team a day later.

Stinar said Davis only recently saw the email suspending him and that they only learned of the suspension after Davis’ Instagram post on Tuesday.

United Airlines said the flight attendant was no longer with the airline, adding: “We have apologized to Mr. Davis for his experience and continue to review our handling of incidents of this nature.”

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Jesse Bedayn is a member of the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-reported issues.

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