NFL star speaks out after being removed from plane for “unruly behavior”

Playing in the NFL comes with its share of privileges, but that doesn’t include “unruly behavior” on planes. For proof, look no further than former NFL player Everson Griffen. TMZ broke the news Griffen was forced off a plane in a recent incident.

The Delta flight was headed from Chicago to Minneapolis when an incident involving the former Viking and four-time Pro Bowler occurred. Although the exact details are murky, the plane returned to O’Hare a few minutes after its initial departure.

A witness claims he was trying to “smoke something”

An unnamed passenger told TMZ that it appeared Griffen was trying to “smoke something” in the lavatory, which led to a “confrontation with flight attendants.”

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Once the plane returned to the airport, a video depicts Griffen leaving the plane calmly. Witnesses said that at that time, law enforcement officials boarded the aircraft to interview witnesses.

Delta has released a statement

Delta has seemingly confirmed the incident releasing a statement that said, Delta has issued a statement saying the flight turned back to the airport "to have an unruly passenger removed."

The athlete left the plane without incident

The statement continues on to say, "Delta has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and will always work with law enforcement to that end. We apologize to our customers for the delay in their travel as safety and security comes before everything else at Delta."

The footballer denies the accusations

The NFL star is speaking out on Instagram with a since-deleted post that said simply:

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“I’m doing just fine. My behavior was not unruly at all. Why would they let me go.”

It isn’t the first time the retired athlete has found himself in hot water. Per Sports Illustrated, the former NFL player has been open about his mental health struggles.

Griffen was given a 60-day sentence and four years of probation stemming from a DWI arrest earlier in the year. As a result, Griffen is not allowed to consume alcohol or controlled substances unless he has a prescription.

Aside from his Instagram post, it is not currently known what happened to Griffen once he disembarked the plane.

Yahoo CreatorTamara GaneTamara Gane is based in Reno/Lake Tahoe. She takes dozens of trips a year and shares the best destinations, accommodations, experiences, and travel gear with her readers. FollowFollow