(CNN) -- NFL free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. was removed from a Los Angeles-bound American Airlines flight Sunday morning at Miami International Airport after refusing to comply with safety protocol, according to a statement from the Miami-Dade Police Department.Officers were notified of a medical emergency on an American Airlines flight around 9:30 a.m.
Sunday. The flight crew grew concerned for a passenger – identified by police as Beckham – as they tried to wake him to fasten his seat belt, according to a statement from Miami police.“He appeared to be coming in and out of consciousness, prior to their departure,” the police statement read.
“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.” When officers arrived, they asked Beckham to exit the aircraft several times, and he refused, according to the statement.
The aircraft was deplaned, at which point officers asked Beckham to exit the plane and he did so without incident, the statement read.“American Airlines flight 1228, with service from Miami (MIA) to Los Angeles (LAX), returned to the gate before takeoff due to a customer failing to follow crew member instructions and refusing to fasten their seatbelt (sic). The customer was removed, and the flight re-departed at 10:54 a.m.
local time,” American Airlines said in a statement obtained by CNN.Daniel Davillier, Beckham’s attorney, released a statement saying his client boarded the flight that morning without any problems. The flight had been delayed and Beckham fell asleep with his blanket over his head – a normal practice of his during long flights, Davillier said.“He was awakened and told
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