Shocking moment British passenger STOPS steward in face and has to be restrained after ‘smashing airplane toilet’ during flight from Bangkok to London
Shocking footage shows the moment a man punched a flight attendant on a flight from Thailand to Britain before being arrested for GBH.
The incident took place after a man, reportedly British, started ‘banging’ in the toilet of a Thai Airways flight on February 7, it is alleged.
Other passengers and cabin crew on the Bangkok-Heathrow route then tried to intervene.
However, the situation escalated and ended with the arrest of a 35-year-old man – who has not yet been named – upon landing in London, police said.
A female passenger sitting just a few seats away, who did not want to give her name, recorded the unfolding drama on her phone.
Her video shows the man punching a steward, who then falls to the ground in the aisle.
The incident occurred after a man started ‘banging’ in the toilet of a Thai Airways flight on February 7.
Other passengers and cabin crew on the Bangkok-Heathrow route then tried to intervene
She said: ‘He was in the toilet and started shouting and screaming. He started smashing the door and it came off the hinges.
‘An older man – in the white T-shirt – tried to get him out. A fight broke out and he ended up punching the flight attendant. I think he broke his nose.’
The 22-year-old, who was returning from a months-long trip, captured another video showing the man screaming while being held in a chair.
She said more passengers became involved after the blow was struck.
Travelers were told the flight may have to divert to Dubai, but if there was no further incident they could continue to London, she added.
She said: ‘Two passengers sat on either side of him and kept pulling him down. We had to endure his screams. He was very verbally aggressive.
‘It was heavy. People switched seats and took children to the back of the plane. (Upon landing) the police came and took him away.”
The Metropolitan Police confirmed officers responded to a report of an assault on board an inbound flight from Bangkok.
Travelers were told the flight may have to divert to Dubai, but if there was no further incident they could fly on to London
A witness said more passengers became involved after the blow was struck
Police said: ‘We met the aircraft on arrival and a 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of grievous bodily harm and endangering an aircraft.
‘He remains in custody.
“Another man was taken to hospital. His condition was assessed as not life-threatening.”
Thai Airways was contacted for comment.