After tapping a flight attendant on the arm during beverage service, Terrell Davis said he had no idea there was a problem until his United Airlines flight landed in Southern California and federal agents unjustly handcuffed him.
“They told everyone on the plane to remain in their seats,” the former Denver Broncos star said during an interview on “CBS Mornings” on Wednesday. “All of a sudden, you can hear… all the gear and the walkie-talkies and a lot of commotion. I peeked into the aisle, and I see all the agents. I see FBI on the jacket, I see the green of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.”
As the group of six FBI agents and sheriff’s deputies walked through the plane, Davis said it became clear they were headed straight toward him.
“The agent walks up to me, and he leans over and whispers, ‘Don’t fight it’ — and puts the cuffs on me,” Davis said. “I felt powerless. I felt embarrassed. … I didn’t get a chance to explain what was happening. He didn’t tell me what was happening.”
The incident stemmed from one moment of interaction between Davis and a flight attendant on a flight from Denver to Orange County, California, on Saturday. Davis first shared his experience on social media earlier this week.
During beverage service, Davis said his son politely requested a cup of ice. The flight attendant didn’t hear him, so Davis said he calmly tapped the attendant on the arm to get his attention.
During the interview with CBS, Davis demonstrated the light, one-finger tap on his wife’s shoulder.
The United flight attendant shouted, “Don’t hit me!” and hurried to the front of the plane, leaving the beverage cart behind, Davis said. Still, the former Broncos running back said he didn’t think anything of it beyond that moment.
When the plane landed and passengers were told to remain in their seats, Davis’ wife, Tamiko, said she was just as clueless about what was going on. Both thought there was a medical emergency or another incident.
“I see them go straight to Terrell and put him in handcuffs, and I jumped up,” she said in the CBS interview. “I kept asking Terrell, I said, ‘Is this a joke, are you joking?’ I thought, ‘What else could it be? This is some cruel practical prank he’s pulling on me.’ “
Tamiko said she was sitting with the pair’s 9-year-old daughter across the aisle from Davis and their 13-year-old and 11-year-old sons.
“I felt helpless. I remember watching them place handcuffs on Terrell and seeing my two sons there,” she said. “As a mom, as a Black mom raising two Black sons, you work really hard to not have your children have those types of experiences. And we were simply going on vacation. This is something that we’ll never get back.”
Davis’ attorney, Parker Stinar, said United Airlines has yet to apologize to Davis and his family.
“Thus far, United’s apology has been in response to media inquiries,” Stinar said. “The CEO has not issued a statement. And, unfortunately, apologies and perhaps policy change don’t take away from the traumas that this family has experienced.”
Stinar said he has heard from dozens of other passengers who have experienced similar conduct and events on United flights.
“After hearing the story of Mr. Davis and the collective response from the global community, we have reason to believe United Airlines has a history of similar injustices against numerous individuals with predominant themes of a lack of training and a lack of respect for your customers,” Stinar wrote in a letter of representation to United CEO Scott Kirby. “Be advised, any litigation will be focused and targeted at exposing all wrongdoings under your leadership that arise from similar facts and circumstances.”
Stinar said law enforcement officials conducted interviews with Davis, United staff members and other passengers after escorting Davis off the plane and quickly realized that the allegations were false. They released him “without any citation, ticket, warning or arrest.”
United Airlines officials on Monday said the flight attendant involved in the encounter has been removed from duty while they “closely review this matter.”
“We are demanding proactive change that applies across your organization to ensure that something like this never happens again,” Stinar wrote in the letter to United. “That change demands a full investigation. That change demands full accountability.”
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