Former professional boxer Mike Tyson allegedly punched a fellow passenger on a JetBlue flight, according to a video obtained by TMZ Sports. The video appeared to show the former heavyweight boxing champion punching the person seated behind him on the flight, which was preparing to head for Florida. The incident occurred at San Francisco International Airport at 10:30 p.m. PT on Wednesday evening.
San Francisco Police Department said that officers detained two people involved in a physical altercation onboard an airplane at the San Francisco International Airport Wednesday night, before later being released. It said one person was treated at the scene for non-life threatening injuries. The department said they are “aware of video that possibly captured the incident, which surfaced following the initial investigation. That video has been forwarded to the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office which has investigative jurisdiction on the incident.” Said the SFPD in the statement: “That subject provided minimal details of the incident and refused to cooperate further with the police investigation. Both subjects were released under 849(b) of the California Penal Code pending further investigation.” SFPD did not name the two people allegedly involved in the altercation.
In a statement, representatives for Tyson said that the other passenger started the incident. Tyson’s reps said on Thursday: “Unfortunately, Mr. Tyson had an incident on a flight with an aggressive passenger who began harassing him and threw a water bottle at him while he was in his seat.” Tyson retired from boxing in 2005 but did take part in an exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr. in 2020.
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