Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis said Wednesday he believes race played a determinant factor in his recent removal, in handcuffs, from a United Airlines flight after asking for a cup of ice. Davis, a former Denver Broncos star and two-time Super Bowl champion, said he's still traumatized by the incident aboard a flight to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, on Saturday. He said he believes race played a role in the incident.
"I believe if I were not a Black man, I wouldn’t have been in handcuffs until they found out exactly what happened," Davis told NBC News. Read more on this story at NBCNews.com and watch "NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt" tonight at 6:30 p.
m. ET/5:30 p.m.
CT. Davis, 51, was on that United flight from Denver when his son asked for a cup of ice and a passing flight attendant didn’t respond, according to the retired football star. Davis said he then "lightly tapped" on the flight attendant’s arm to get his attention when he shouted, "don’t hit me.
" The flight went on without further incident — but upon landing, a half-dozen FBI agents and sheriff's deputies boarded and took Davis away in handcuffs, he said. Earlier this week, United Airlines apologized and took that flight attendant off duty while it reviews the incident. “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,” United said in a statement. If he were not Black, Davis said, he believ.
