Ex-NFL player Terrell Davis says he's on no-fly list after being escorted off United flight

Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis, who was handcuffed and taken off a United Airlines flight earlier this month, said the airline has now sent him a temporary travel ban notice.

On his Instagram Tuesday morning, the former Denver Broncos running back posted a screenshot of an email apparently sent by United’s Passenger Incident Review Committee.

United’s policy is to “delay or refuse any passenger whose conduct or condition threatens the safety of the employees and passengers,” the screenshot read.

The statement goes onto say, "Based on the nature of the reported incident that occurred on UA1061 on July 13, 2024, this shall serve as a notice that you are not permitted to fly on united airlines or any regional carrier operating as united express until a review of the incident by United's Passenger Incident Review Committee has occurred."

The letter also reads it "would like to consider" Davis' version of what occurred in the incident making the airline's determination, and requested a response from Davis within 96 hours of receiving the notice.

USA TODAY has reached out to United.

In a four-slide post, Davis explained his frustration with the airline over the incident claiming he did nothing wrong on the plane.

"Adding insult to injury, @united not only had me removed from their flight in handcuffs, but placed me on their No Fly List after it was determined I did nothing wrong and was released," Davis wrote. "While my family and I continue to have difficult conversations with our children, I will continue to fight for what is right for all passengers of @united ."

Why was Terrell Davis handcuffed on a plane?

Davis said he was traveling with his family when his son asked for a cup of ice during beverage service, according to an Instagram post Davis wrote after the incident.

The two-time Super Bowl champion wrote that the flight attendant didn't respond to the request, so Davis said he "calmly reached behind me and lightly tapped his arm." The flight attendant allegedly shouted "don't hit me" and left the beverage cart to go to the front of the plane. Davis said he and other passengers were confused.

"I thought nothing of it other than this particular employee was incredibly rude and blatantly wrong in his accusations of me hitting him," he said. "I did not see or interact with him further for the duration of the flight."

When the flight landed, Davis said, the pilot asked passengers to remain seated and six FBI and law enforcement agents boarded the plane and placed him in handcuffs.

Davis said he was taken into custody by officials for questioning, and claimed afterward "it was rightfully determined by the agents this flight attendant was inaccurate in his accusations and the agents profusely apologized even offering to support me and my family in any way possible."

The case remained under investigation by the FBI Tuesday.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ex-NFL player Terrell Davis says he's on no-fly list after being escorted off United flight