Former Broncos RB Terrell Davis says he was handcuffed, removed from United Airlines flight after tapping flight attendant on arm

DENVER — Former Denver Broncos star Terrell Davis says he was unjustly handcuffed by federal agents after lightly tapping on a flight attendant’s arm during a United Airlines flight over the weekend.

In a Monday morning post on Instagram, Davis wrote that he was flying from Denver to Orange County, Calif., on Saturday with his wife and three children.

During the beverage service, Davis said his son politely requested a cup of ice. The attendant didn’t hear him, so Davis said he calmly tapped the attendant on the arm to get his attention.

The United staffer shouted, “Don’t hit me!” according to Davis’ post, and left hurriedly to the front of the plane.

When the flight landed, Davis said the pilot asked the passengers to remain seated as “six FBI and law enforcement agents” boarded the plane and placed the former running back in handcuffs. He was then removed from the aircraft.

“I was — and remain — humiliated, embarrassed, powerless and angry,” Davis wrote.

During questioning, the former Bronco said the agents apologized after determining the flight attendant was inaccurate in his accusations. He said he has yet to hear from United Airlines, from whom he is demanding a thorough investigation into the incident.

“The traumatizing experience of my two sons, my daughter and my wife watching me being placed in handcuffs — without due process or any explanation — cannot be undone,” Davis wrote.

United Airlines officials on Monday said the flight attendant involved in the encounter has been removed from duty while “we closely review this matter.”

“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,” the airline said in a statement.

In an email, FBI Los Angeles Field Office spokesperson Laura Eimiller confirmed FBI agents and law enforcement responded to Orange County’s John Wayne Airport on Saturday for an incident on a flight “that required further investigation.” The agency does not provide names or details about people who might have been interviewed, she said.

“One individual was detained for questioning, was cooperative with law enforcement and was released to continue his travels,” Eimiller said in a statement.

Attorneys for Davis described what happened on the flight as “appalling and disturbing to say the least.”

“We plan on fully investigating the events that took place and are actively contacting United Airlines in this matter,” said Parker Stinar, managing partner with Chicago law firm Stinar Gould Grieco & Hensley, in a statement Monday.

Stinar is planning to publish a letter to United CEO Scott Kirby “in the near future,” the firm said in a news release.