Former EastEnders star Sid Owen was reportedly kicked off a flight from Dubai on Thursday, for arguing with a passenger over his reclined seat.
According to The Sun, the actor, 46, claimed the flight-goer sat in front of him slapped him, when Sid complained about the seat infringing in his space.
Sources claim both parties refused to move to different seats and were subsequently removed from the plane, after their feud delayed take-off by an hour.
At war: Former EastEnders star Sid Owen was reportedly kicked off a flight from Dubai on Thursday, for arguing with a passenger over his reclined seat (pictured in January 2017)
Insiders told the paper that Sid, best known for playing Ricky Butcher on the soap, claimed to have been ‘assaulted’ on the British Airways flight, after he asked the passenger in front to not recline his seat so far back.
A flight-goer said: ‘We were at the gate when he came storming up the aisle shouting at a male steward, ‘Someone’s just slapped me’. He was extremely red, gesticulating and agitated.
‘Apparently, the guy in front of him had reclined his seat and Sid had objected. Then it turned into handbags.’
Not happy: The actor, best known as Ricky Butcher in the soap (pictured in 2000), claimed the passenger in front of him slapped him, when Sid complained about his reclined seat
The insider went on to reveal both parties were removed from the plane, with one passenger even shouting ‘Rickay!’ as Sid was escorted off – the shriek made famous by his on-screen wife Bianca, played by Patsy Palmer, in EastEnders.
They added: ‘Everyone recognised him and was fed up at this little spat delaying us. We learned later that a steward offered to sit the two them at opposite ends of the plane but they were so indignant they refused.’
Sid and the angry flight-goer are said to have caught the next flight to London Heathrow, with the actor claiming to have been ‘assaulted’ upon arrival.
Poking fun: One passenger reportedly shouted ‘Rickay!’ as Sid was escorted off the plane – the shriek made famous by on-screen wife Bianca (Patsy Palmer) in EastEnders (pictured in 2002)
Furious: Sid and the angry flight-goer are said to have caught the next flight to London Heathrow, with the actor claiming to have been ‘assaulted’ upon arrival (pictured in April 2016)
MailOnline has contacted a representative for both Sid and British Airways for comment.
Sid is best known for playing Ricky Butcher in EastEnders, who he portrayed from 1988 to 2012 – making him one of the longest-running cast members.
However, the actor recently sparked rumours he could be returning to the soap, after revealing co-star June Brown is attempting to persuade BBC producers to bring him back.
Speaking to OK! last month, he explained: ‘June was trying to convince me to come back to EastEnders. She was like, ‘I’m going to have a word and get you back.’
Main man: Sid is best known for playing Ricky Butcher in EastEnders, who he portrayed from 1988 to 2012 (pictured on the show in 2011 with Linsday Coulson and Natalie Cassidy)
‘You do miss the routine sometimes and that camaraderie – it’s very family orientated because your friends are there.’
Yet, it is unlikely his screen partner in crime Bianca will be joining him, as actress Patsy Palmer has relocated to the States.
Patsy and her cab driver husband Richard Merkell moved across the pond to start a new life in Malibu, California, four years ago.
Her children have gone on to find success Stateside – with her son Charley Palmer Rothwell, 25, an actor, while his brother Fenton, 16, and sister Emilia, 15, are finding their feet as models.
Comeback: The actor recently sparked rumours he could be returning to the soap, after revealing co-star June Brown is attempting to persuade bosses to bring him back (pictured in May 2016)