TOPLINE On Sunday morning, police removed NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. from an American Airlines flight after he allegedly failed to follow instructions from flight crew members who claimed they were concerned about his health.The star wide receiver, who is currently unsigned, was on American Airlines Flight 1128 from Miami to Los Angeles when the incident occurred.
Police removed Odell Beckham Jr. from a plane after the flight crew expressed health concerns.
American Airlines said in an emailed statement that did not name Beckham that the flight was returned to the gate before takeoff because a passenger failed to “follow crew member instructions” and refused to fasten their seatbelt.Responding to the incident, Miami-Dade Police said the flight crew was concerned about Beckham’s health because he “appeared to be coming in and out of consciousness” just before the plane took off and feared his “condition would worsen during the expected 5 hour flight.”
Beckham allegedly refused to leave the plane when the crew asked him to, but he eventually exited the plane “without incident” after it was cleared of all passengers and police intervened.Beckham later tweeted, “Never in my life have I experienced what just happened to me.”
Police removed Odell Beckham Jr. from a plane after the flight crew expressed health concerns.
THE CHIEF CRITIC
Beckham’s lawyer, Daniel Davillier, claimed the flight was delayed and prior to takeoff: “Beckham fell asleep with his blanket over his head, which is his usual practise for long flights.” He had been [awakened]
and informed that the plane had returned to the gate and that he needed to exit the plane because he had failed to put his seatbelt on when asked.” According to the statement, Beckham told the attendant he would put his seatbelt on at that time but was told it was too late. The incident was blamed on a “overzealous flight attendant,” according to the statement, and it added: “Sleeping “Being late for a flight should not be grounds for removal.”