NFL Hall of Famer says he was handcuffed and removed from a flight for tapping an attendant's arm

Former Denver Broncos star Terrell Davis is crying foul after he was removed from a United Airlines flight in handcuffs over the weekend – because he "lightly tapped" on a flight attendant's arm, he says.

In a message posted to Instagram on Monday, the Hall of Famer said he was flying from Denver to Orange County, California on Saturday with his family when his son asked for a cup of ice.

"The flight attendant either didn't hear or ignored his request and continued past our row. I calmly reached behind me and lightly tapped his arm to get his attention to again as for a cup of ice for my son," Davis said. "His response and the events that followed should stun us all."

According to Davis, the attendant turned toward him, screamed, "Don't hit me!" and ran to the front of the plane, leaving the beverage cart in the aisle, Davis recalled.

"I was confused, as were the passengers in front of me who witnessed the exchange. I thought nothing of it other than this particular employee was incredibly rude and blatantly wrong in his accusations of me hitting him," Davis said, adding that he did not see or interact with the attendant for the rest of the flight.

When the plane landed, "six FBI and law enforcement agents" boarded, put the ex-running back in handcuffs and escorted him off the aircraft "without any explanation," Davis said.

"I was — and remain — humiliated, embarrassed, powerless and angry," Davis said. "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 said an FBI agent questioned him and let him go when there was no evidence to corroborate the flight attendant's claim.

"FBI agents and law enforcement partners at Orange County's John Wayne Airport responded to a report regarding an incident that had occurred about a flight which required further investigation," FBI officials said in a statement. "One individual was detained for questioning, was cooperative with law enforcement and was released to continue his travels."

United Airlines addressed the incident in a statement, saying it was "clearly not the kind of travel experience we strive to provide" and that it "reached out to Mr. Davis's team to apologize."

"We have removed the flight attendant from duty while we closely review this matter," the airline added.