'Humiliated' former NFL star Terrell Davis opens up on being handcuffed on a flight as he demands for United Airlines to be held accountable: 'My dignity was stripped'

Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis opened up on getting wrongfully handcuffed out of an aircraft in front of his family en route to a California getaway. 

On Monday, the 51-year-old shared a statement about the 'humiliating, disturbing and traumatizing' experience on a United Airlines flight from Denver to Orange County over the weekend. 

Days later, Davis went in depth with the story in an interview with ABC's Good Morning America. During his appearance, the former Super Bowl MVP revealed that he is yet to hear from the airline after the incident. 

'I felt demoralized. I felt embarrassed, humiliated,' the two-time Super Bowl champion shared. 'I felt like my dignity was stripped from me right in front of my children and my family. And I want United to be held accountable for this.'

Travelling with his wife, two sons and daughter, Davis attempted to flag a flight attendant after his son asked for a cup of ice. On his Instagram post, Davis wrote that an attendant 'either didn't hear or ignored his request and continued past our row.'

'I calmly reached behind me and lightly tapped (the attendant's) arm to get his attention to again ask for a cup of ice for my son,' Davis continued. 'His response and the events that followed should stun all of us. 

'He shouted, 'Don't hit me,' and left the cart to hurriedly approach the front of the plane. 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 added that he did not interact with the attendant for the remainder of the flight. However, after the plane landed in Orange County, the pilot asked passengers to remain seated before FBI and law enforcement agents approached and handcuffed Davis before escorting him out of the aircraft. 

The incident was 'recorded by multiple passengers,' according to Davis. 

Davis' wife, Tamiko, told GMA she 'thought it was a joke, because what else could it be?'

'Terrell, are you joking? Is this a prank?' And he just said, quietly: 'No, it's not.' And I'm looking at my sons, who are sitting right next to him, watching their dad being handcuffed.'

'We were just left to fend for ourselves on a flight with everyone staring at us,' Tamiko continued. 

'During questioning, it was rightfully determined by the agents that this flight attendant was inaccurate in his accusations and the agents profusely apologized,' Davis wrote. 

United told CNN on Monday evening that they have 'removed the flight attendant from duty while we closely review this matter.'

'This is clearly not the kind of travel experience we strive to provide, and we have reached out to Mr. Davis' team to apologize,' United Airlines' email read. 

However, Davis told GMA that the airline has not contacted him directly to address the incident.

'They have not reached out to me to apologize. They have reached out to my attorney, but I have not heard from them directly. And so that, to me, is a problem.' 

'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' Instagram post read. 

The FBI's Los Angeles office acknowledged on Monday that the person detained at John Wayne Airport for questioning 'was cooperative with law enforcement and was released to continue his travels.'

Parker Stinar, managing partner of the Chicago-based law firm representing Davis, wrote that the incident 'is appalling and disturbing to say the least,' in an email to CNN. 

'We plan on fully investigating the events that took place and are actively contacting United Airlines in this matter,' Stinar wrote.