'Drunk' passenger causes mid-air diversion after 'biting flight attendant and putting holidaymaker in chokehold'

A drunken Qantas Airlines passenger has caused a mid-air diversion after allegedly biting a flight attendant and putting another holidaymaker in a chokehold.

The passenger was removed from the long-haul flight after the plane touched down on the rainforest island of Tahiti.

The QF21 flight left Melbourne at 2.30pm on Friday before being forced to divert to French Polynesia.

He was subsequently arrested by the authorities upon arrival in Papeete.

The man was also barred from flying with the Australian airline again, including on flights run by its sister company Jetstar.

The diversion impacted passengers embarking on a 16-hour journey from the Australian city of Melbourne to Dallas in Texas.

Issues were reported on the flight after one passenger reclined their seat into the person sitting behind them.

The second passenger was said to have responded by putting them in a chokehold.

Comedian Mike Goldstein, who witnessed the brazen brawl, claimed the chokehold caused "the rampage to start".

He said: “A drunk guy on my long haul flight (Melbourne to Dallas) kept trying to step out for a cig."

Decided it was best to drop him off at a jail in Tahiti.”

He joked that he was “loving the in-flight entertainment”.

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In another video, which has circulated on social media, the passenger was heard telling one crew member to "f**k off c**t".

The flight attendant who was bitten by the passenger is not believed to have sustained any injuries.

The row added an extra three hours to the journey.

Following the incident, Qantas Airlines refuelled the plane and resumed the journey around 35 minutes later.

Many passengers subsequently missed their connecting flights.

A Qantas spokesman said: "The safety of our customers and our crew is our number one priority and we have zero tolerance for disruptive or threatening behaviour on our flights."