United Airlines apologizes to football star after incident with employee

SANTA ANA (CNS) – United Airlines officials apologized Monday to Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis after he was detained and questioned following an argument with a flight attendant on a flight from Denver to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana.

Davis was escorted off the plane in handcuffs at the end of his flight on Saturday, he wrote in a statement. He said an FBI agent questioned him and let him go when there was no evidence to support the flight attendant’s testimony.

FBI officials said they do not release the names of those arrested or questioned unless there is criminal prosecution, such as an arrest.

“FBI agents and law enforcement partners at John Wayne Airport in Orange County responded to a report of an incident that occurred on a flight that required further investigation,” FBI officials said in a statement. “One individual was detained for questioning, cooperated with law enforcement and was released to continue their travel.”

United Airlines issued the following statement:

“This is clearly not the type of travel experience we aim to provide and we have reached out to Mr. Davis’ team to apologize. We have removed the flight attendant from duty while we closely investigate this matter.”

Davis said in a statement on his Instagram page that he was flying with his wife, two sons and a daughter when his son “politely” asked the male flight attendant for a cup of ice cream. When there was no response, the former Denver Broncos star said he “calmly reached behind me and lightly tapped his arm to get his attention and ask him again for a cup of ice cream for my son.”

Davis said the flight attendant “yelled, ‘Don’t hit me,’ and got out of the car and hurried to the front of the plane.”

Davis said he didn’t think much of it, finding the exchange “incredibly rude and obviously wrong,” but when the flight landed, the pilot told everyone to remain seated while six FBI agents and police officers boarded.

Davis said he was handcuffed and then led off the plane, leaving him “humiliated, ashamed, powerless and angry.”