'Disruptive' Santonio Holmes Escorted Off Pittsburgh Flight

[BengalsNYC]

'Disruptive' Santonio Holmes Escorted Off Pittsburgh Flight

Posted: 10:41 am EDT April 30, 2010
Updated: 12:28 pm EDT April 30, 2010

PITTSBURGH -- Former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes had to be escorted off a plane Thursday night at Pittsburgh International Airport, investigators said.

Channel 11 News reporter Renee Kaminski said the incident happened shortly after 9 p.m. Investigators said Holmes wasn't arrested but was escorted off the plane for what they call being a "disruptive passenger."

The plane was docked at Gate D77 when a "disturbance" involving an iPod and refusal to comply with flight crew demands was reported, investigators said.

Earlier in the night, the following tweet was posted to Homes' Twitter account: "Only guy on the plane headed to Pitt from NJ, wearing my green n white. GO JETS!"

Earlier this month, the New York Jets acquired the talented but troubled wide receiver from the Steelers in return for a fifth-round pick in the NFL draft.



Holmes has been suspended without pay by the NFL for the first four regular-season games for violating the league's substance abuse policy. However, he's eligible to participate in the team's offseason program and in all preseason practices and games.

Holmes has 235 career catches for 3,835 yards and 20 touchdowns, but also brings his share of off-field issues, which could explain the relatively low price the Jets paid to get him.


The 26-year-old Holmes is facing a civil lawsuit in Florida from a woman who claims he threw a glass at her, cutting her above the eye, in an Orlando nightclub. The police also have been investigating the woman's claims. Holmes denies hurting the woman, and a witness has since taken responsibility for tossing the glass, according to Holmes' lawyer.

In 2008, Holmes was arrested for possession of marijuana, and he was involved in a domestic violence incident in 2006. The misdemeanor charges were dismissed.

The 5-foot-11 Holmes, a first-round pick out of Ohio State in 2006, adds a speedy complement to the Jets' passing game. He's coming off the best season of his career statistically, after having 79 catches for 1,248 yards and five touchdowns.