Mike Tyson's Fists Fly Against Fellow Flyer On Flight At SF Airport

SAN FRANCISCO — Video shows former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson beating — and bloodying — a fellow passenger on a plane at San Francisco International Airport, and police said they were called to the altercation.

In the video, Tyson leaned over the back of his seat and repeatedly punches a man in the head. The footage, first shared by TMZ, was recorded on a Jet Blue plane headed to Florida. Moments before Tyson unleashed a barrage of punches, the other passenger was recorded on video standing over the former boxer's seat, waving his arms and talking animatedly as Tyson sat quietly.

San Francisco police told The Associated Press that they were called around 10 p.m. Wednesday regarding a physical altercation on a plane at the airport's domestic terminal.

"Officers arrived and detained two subjects that were believed to be involved in the incident. One subject was treated at the scene for non-life-threatening injuries. That subject provided minimal details of the incident and refused to cooperate further with the police investigation," police said Thursday.

Both were released pending further investigation, the statement said.

Representatives for Tyson told AP in an email: "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."

Passenger Sarah Burchfield, who was on the flight, said the passenger seemed loud and quarrelsome at an airport bar before boarding.

"When I boarded the flight, I thought, 'Oh, no, that drunk guy is on our flight,'" she told SFGate.

When she boarded, Burchfield said, she passed Tyson's seat and saw the belligerent man interacting with Tyson. Not long after, she heard the confrontation.

San Francisco police said video of the beating was shared with the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, which has jurisdiction over the airport.

Sheriff's officials said "we are not releasing information on the incident because it is an active investigation."

JetBlue didn't immediately respond to Patch's email seeking comment.

Tyson, 55, was in San Francisco promoting his cannabis brand Tyson 2.0 at the annual 420 cannabis festival in Golden Gate Park, SFGate reported.

In 1987, he became the youngest heavyweight champion in history at age 20. During his career, he collected 50 wins and 44 knockouts.

In the 1990s, Tyson served three years in prison after being convicted of rape. He has maintained his innocence in that case.

Tyson was briefly barred from boxing after infamously biting off part of Evander Holyfield's ear during a fight in 1997.

The Associated Press contributed reporting.