An ordinary morning flight turned into a viral spectacle after NFL star Odell Beckham Jr. was removed from an American Airlines plane, prompting the entire aircraft to deplane before takeoff. The incident, captured on multiple passenger videos, quickly exploded online — raising questions about celebrity treatment, flight safety, and the balance between authority and personal rights.
According to airline staff, the wide receiver was found “unresponsive” before departure from Miami International Airport. Flight attendants claimed they repeatedly tried to wake him as the plane prepared for takeoff, fearing for his safety. When he did not respond, they reportedly called for law enforcement, believing he might be in medical distress.
But once officers boarded the aircraft, the situation took a sharp turn. Beckham appeared alert and confused, questioning why he was being asked to leave. “Can I speak?” he can be heard saying in one of the passenger videos. The footage shows several police officers standing over him as he calmly refuses to comply at first, insisting he was fine and had simply been sleeping.
Despite his insistence, the crew demanded that he deplane. When Beckham initially declined, the captain made the rare decision to have all passengers leave the aircraft — causing a nearly two-hour delay. Travelers were seen grumbling and recording the tense standoff as officers eventually escorted the NFL star off the plane.
Witnesses gave mixed accounts. Some passengers sided with Beckham, claiming the flight attendants exaggerated the situation. “He was sleeping, not causing trouble,” one traveler posted on social media. “They escalated it for no reason.” Others, however, said the crew acted appropriately. “If someone isn’t responding during pre-flight checks, that’s a safety concern,” another passenger wrote.
After being removed, Beckham was not arrested and later boarded another flight without incident. He addressed the ordeal on social media, posting a series of cryptic messages suggesting frustration with the situation. “Never in my life have I experienced what just happened… comedy hour,” he tweeted, followed by laughing emojis.
The incident quickly trended on X (formerly Twitter), with fans debating whether he was unfairly targeted or if the crew was just following safety protocol. Sports commentators and fellow athletes chimed in, with some defending Beckham’s right to privacy and others emphasizing that celebrity status doesn’t exempt anyone from standard procedures.
A spokesperson for American Airlines later released a statement confirming that the decision to remove him was made “out of an abundance of caution” after concerns about his responsiveness. The Miami-Dade Police Department echoed the same, saying officers were called due to a “medical emergency that did not require further action.”
The viral video — showing a calm but clearly frustrated Beckham surrounded by officers and confused passengers — has since amassed millions of views.
While Beckham has moved on and continues to focus on his career, the incident remains one of the most talked-about celebrity flight controversies in recent memory. Whether it was a misunderstanding or an overreaction, the moment once again proved that when fame meets authority, even a quiet nap can turn into headline news.
