Fists fly as air rage brawl breaks out between Russian tourists on Turkish Airlines flight with fellow passengers battling to pull them apart just minutes before takeoff from Istanbul
- Three Russian tourists, two men and one woman, were thrown off the flight
- They were travelling from the Turkish city of Istanbul to Yekaterinburg, Russia
- It is understood they were taken into custody in Istanbul after the incident
This is the moment a fight erupts between air rage tourists minutes before takeoff.
The three Russian tourists, two men and one woman, were thrown off the Turkish Airlines flight in Istanbul after being accused of hooliganism.
Footage shows other passengers crowding around and trying to calm the brawl down as they return to Russia after spending their holidays in Turkey.
The fight erupted as the flight from Istanbul to Yekaterinburg was getting ready for takeoff
Eventually, two members of the crew arrive.
Babies can be heard screaming as the group brawls loudly on the plane.
A male passenger was accused of ‘beating’ a woman as the A319 Airbus flight from Istanbul to Yekaterinburg was getting ready for takeoff.
‘A woman was the first to throw her fists and then a grey-haired man slapped her in the face in response,’ a witness said.
Babies can be heard screaming on the plane as the group, pictured, fights loudly
The reason for the conflict on the Turkish Airlines plane was not clear, it is understood
He said another man then stood up, saying: ‘How can you beat a woman?’
Other passengers and two hostesses rushed to calm the brawl.
The three people involved in the fight were removed from the plane by police before takeoff, it is understood.
Their baggage was also removed and they were allegedly taken into custody in Istanbul.
Two hostesses, together with other passengers, intervened to try and calm the group down
Eventually, the flight left after a delay of about 45 minutes without the three Russians.
It landed in Yekaterinburg, east of the Ural Mountains, at 6.55am.
Reports said the reason for the conflict was not clear.