Video released: Terrell Davis handcuffed, removed from United flight
DENVER (KDVR) — The attorney representing NFL Hall of Famer Terrell Davis has released video of the former Denver Broncos player being handcuffed and taken off a United Airlines flight, adding that he expects to file a lawsuit on behalf of the Davis family soon.
The video, seen above, appears to show an FBI agent and another enforcement officer taking Davis off the flight while the rest of the passengers remain seated. It appears Davis goes willingly in the video.
Davis's attorney, Parker Stinar, said he plans to file a lawsuit on behalf of the family in the next couple of weeks.
Stinar said Davis and his wife know they have a platform and other people who experience social injustices do not.
"Now they are in a situation to show their children that when something wrong takes place, you stand up against it," Stinar said.
Terrell Davis speaks about United's 'deplorable treatment'
In mid-July, Davis posted on Instagram about his experience on a United flight from Denver to Orange County, California, with his wife, two sons and daughter.
Davis said that during the flight, his son asked the flight attendant for some ice. After the attendant didn't hear his son, Davis said he tapped the attendant, which is when the attendant shouted “Don’t hit me."
During an interview with "GMA," Davis explained that he believed the interaction was “bizarre” and rude, but didn’t think things would escalate further. But when the plane landed, he said everyone was instructed to remain in their seats. Davis thought there may have been a medical emergency, but instead FBI agents boarded the plane.
“Without explaining to me why they were doing it, they walk up to me and the guy just whispers in my ear, ‘Don’t fight it,’ and he puts cuffs on me.”
Davis was then lead off the plane — a moment captured in the video above.
“The traumatizing experience of my two sons, daughter, and my wife watching me being placed in handcuffs — without due process or explanation — cannot be undone,” said Davis in his Instagram post.
Later, Davis said the agents determined that the attendant was inaccurate and the agents apologized to Davis.
United provided Nexstar's KDVR with the following statement:
"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. We have removed the flight attendant from duty while we closely review this matter."
Alix Martichoux contributed to this report.