The wide receiver also appears to express his feelings on his social media account a few hours after being removed from a flight at Miami International Airport.
- Nov 27, 2022
AceShowbiz - Odell Beckham Jr.'s lawyer is finally speaking out about the NFL star's airplane incident. The attorney, Daniel Davilier, issued a statement after the football player was taken off a plane over a "medical emergency."
"Earlier today, Odell Beckham Jr. boarded a morning flight in Miami without any problems," Daniel began in his statement, posted by Ian Rapoport on Sunday, November 27 via Twitter. "The flight was delayed after boarding and prior to take off, Mr Beckham fell asleep with his blanket over his head, which is his normal practice for long flights."
Daniel further explained that Odell "was awakened and told that the plane was back at the gate and that he needed to get off the plane because he did not put his seatbelt on when asked." The attorney added, "He responded that he was asleep, and that he would put his seatbelt on at that time. He was informed that it was too late, and that either he would have to get off the plane or everyone would have to deplane."
Later, Daniel branded the flight attendant who interacted with Odell "overzealous," adding that the staff "insisted on removing everyone from the plane instead of simply allowing Mr Beckham to fasten his seatbelt and proceed with the flight." The lawyer went on, "At no time was Mr Beckham disruptive or combative. He was willing to comply with the seatbelt requirement, but the flight attendant wanted to prove that he had the authority to have Mr Beckham removed from the flight."
Daniel detailed, "The airline proceeded to send Mr Beckham's luggage to Los Angeles without him." He then highlighted, "That incident was unnecessary. Sleeping on a plane should not be a cause for removal from a flight. If they could wake him up when the flight returned to the gate, then they could have done the same thing to ask him to put on his seatbelt."
Earlier that day, it's reported that Odell was removed from a flight at Miami International Airport after police say he was "in and out of consciousness" and refused to leave the airplane when asked. According to a statement from the Miami-Dade Police Department, officers were called to the plane for a medical emergency after the flight crew expressed concern that he was seriously ill.
"The flight crew was concerned for a passenger [Mr. Odell Beckham], as they tried to wake him to fasten his seat belt, he appeared to be coming in and out of consciousness, prior to their departure," the statement said. "Fearing that Mr. Beckham was seriously ill, and that his condition would worsen through the expected 5 hour flight, the attendants called for police and fire rescue. Upon the officer's arrival, the flight crew asked Mr. Beckham several times to exit the aircraft, which he refused."
American Airlines also released a statement, saying the plane returned to the gate due to "a customer failing to follow crew member instructions and refusing to fasten their seatbelt." The flight took off almost two hours late.
Later that day, Odell appeared to address the incident in a series of Twitter posts. He first tweeted, "Never in my life have I experienced what just happened to me… I've seen it alll…" He then stressed in a separate post, "Never. In. My. Life."
A few minutes later, Odell seemingly expressed how he felt after being kicked off the plane, "I COULD NEVER MAKE THIS UP." In a separate tweet, the 30-year-old wide receiver laughed off the incident as writing, "[laughing with tears emoji] comedy hr."
