Mike Tyson won't face charges in altercation with JetBlue passenger, district attorney says

A California district attorney declined to file charges Tuesday against former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson after he was recorded on video in a physical altercation with another passenger on a JetBlue flight.

San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe made the decision after having reviewed police reports and videos of the April 20 incident. Both the passenger, who has not been identified, and Tyson requested that no charges be filed.

"Yesterday afternoon the San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office concluded its review of the case involving Mike Tyson at the San Francisco Airport on April 20, 2022 and the allegation that he committed a misdemeanor battery against another passenger on an airplane while waiting at the terminal prior to departure," Wagstaffe said in a statement.

"Our decision is that we will not file any charges against Mr. Tyson based on the circumstances surrounding the confrontation. These include the conduct of the victim leading up to the incident, the interaction between Mr. Tyson and the victim, as well as the requests of both the victim and Mr. Tyson that no charges be filed in this case," Wagstaffe said.

Cellphone video showed Tyson, 55, appearing to try to punch someone who was pushing him away. Representatives for Tyson said the person was harassing Tyson. The video did not show what happened before the altercation.

David Chesnoff, Richard Schonfeld and Martin Sabelli, attorneys for Tyson, responded to the decision to not file charges by thanking Wagstaffe, the San Mateo County sheriff and law enforcement agencies "for their careful, diligent, and professional work."