Denver Broncos Hall of Famer Terrell Davis is in shock after being handcuffed on a United Airlines flight

FBI agents arrested Denver Broncos Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis over the weekend following an incident during a commercial flight operated by United Airlines from Denver to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.

Davis described the situation on social media after his release, saying he was “stunned” by what happened. He said he tried to get a flight attendant to help him with a request from a family member sitting next to him, and the flight attendant acted “rudely” when Davis tapped him on the arm to get his attention.

The FBI’s Los Angeles office did not identify Davis by name in a statement about its actions. They said their agents and some local police in Orange County “responded to a report of an incident onboard a flight that required further investigation.” They said the person arrested “cooperated with law enforcement and was released to continue their journey.”

Davis says he is “in shock at the traumatic events.” He was traveling with his wife, two sons and daughter.

“During drink service, my son politely asked for a cup of ice. The flight attendant either did not hear his request or ignored it and continued walking past our row. I calmly reached behind me and lightly tapped his arm to get his attention and again ask him for a cup of ice for my son,” Davis wrote in the social media post.

Davis says that immediately after he slapped the flight attendant on the arm, the attendant yelled “Don’t hit me” and walked to another part of the plane. Davis says the flight attendant was “incredibly rude and completely wrong in his accusations that I hit him” and he had no further contact with the flight attendant for the rest of the flight.

Before the passengers were allowed to leave the plane, Davis said, the captain told everyone to remain seated. Police officers then entered the plane, handcuffed Davis and escorted him off the plane without giving a reason.

Shortly after questioning began at the airport, the FBI told him they agreed with Davis that the flight attendant’s accusation was false. He says they apologized to him and then released him.

He says he is “humiliated, ashamed, powerless and angry.”

“I refuse to stand by and denounce this heinous injustice and deplorable treatment by United Airlines,” Davis said.

Davis said his legal team is contacting United Airlines.

“I demand a thorough and proper investigation into the case of the flight attendant who blatantly lied and caused undue harm to me and my family,” he said.

Following publication of this article, United Media Relations provided the following response to CBS Colorado’s request for comment:

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.