Former Vikings defensive lineman Everson Griffen is denying that he caused trouble on a flight Wednesday bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
The 37-year-old former standout, who lives in the Twin Cities, created an unspecified scene soon after takeoff from Chicago, according to TMZ Sports.
Delta Air Lines spokesperson Berj Alexanian told the Minnesota Star Tribune that pilots went back to O’Hare International Airport “to have an unruly passenger removed.”
Alexanian added that “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.”
While there was no word about whether Griffen was arrested, Alexanian said, “I recommend reaching out to the Chicago O’Hare Police Department.”
Griffen released a statement to the Star Tribune that said his behavior “was not unruly at all. Why would they let me go?”
The FBI’s spokeswoman in Chicago, Gabrielle Szlenkier, said the agency was “aware of reports of an alleged unruly passenger on a Delta flight originating from O’Hare airport ... however, no further information is available for release at this time.”
O’Hare police said it had nothing to say about Griffen’s actions on the plane.