Terrell Davis says United banned him after flight incident. Airline says it was already rescinded

Updated Jul. 30, 2024 4:15 p.m. ET

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DENVER (AP) — Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Davis posted an email from United Airlines Tuesday that said he was banned from flying the airline until a review of an incident earlier this month was complete. But United officials said they already told Davis' team that the ban was rescinded weeks ago.

The conflicting messages heightened tensions, with Davis' attorney, Parker Stinar, denying that Davis had received notice that the ban was withdrawn and calling for an “overhaul of United's leadership.”

The back and forth was kicked off two weeks ago when Davis, who previously played for the Denver Broncos, said he was handcuffed and removed from a July 13 flight after he lightly tapped a flight attendant on the arm, prompting the employee to say “don't hit me" and hurry off.

Davis, who was later released with apologies, has called out United for making him feel “humiliated" and demanded an investigation.

“My family will never unsee me, nor will I ever forget, being taken off an airplanes in handcuffs,” Davis wrote in Tuesday's Instagram post.

The day after the incident, the email from United banning Davis was generated and sent, United said in a statement. The ban was then rescinded the following day, which United said was communicated with Davis' team a day later.

Stinar said that Davis did not initially see the email banning him until recently and that they had only learned the ban was rescinded after Davis' Tuesday Instagram post.

United Airlines said the flight attendant is no longer with the company, adding: “We have apologized to Mr. Davis for his experience and continue to review our handling of incidents like this."

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Jesse Bedayn is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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