A passenger on board a British Airways plane landing at Heathrow Airport captured the dramatic moment a "violent passenger" had to be escorted from the flight after allegedly BITING a man.

Christopher McNerlin was flying back to Heathrow from Dubai on Friday (April 1) when he went to the aid of a stewardess dealing with an aggressive fellow traveller.

He was was allowed to sit in the cockpit by the pilot as thanks for his efforts but was bitten on the arm during the incident and had to go to hospital for a check-up.

The footage, recorded by another passenger, shows police walking down the gangway towards the rear of the aircraft, which had just landed at Heathrow Airport from Dubai.

The man can then be seen as he is led back through the length of the plane in handcuffs, swearing and shouting "I ain't resisting mate", as the officers escorted him off.

A man was bitten on a British Airways plane after helping a stewardess deal with an aggressive passenger

Arrested for actual bodily harm and being drunk on board a plane

British Airways said the matter is being dealt with by police, after officers were called to the airport shortly before 6pm.

A Metropolitan Police spokeswoman said: "Officers attended and found a 21-year-old man who had assaulted a passenger.

“The man was arrested on suspicion of actual bodily harm and being drunk on board an aircraft.

"He was taken to a west London police station and has been bailed to a date in late May.

“The injured passenger received medical assistance for a minor injury at the scene."

The person that posted the footage online wrote: "There was a big disruption towards the end of the flight.

"I was sitting in the rear of Premium Economy, near the back curtain, and could hear a lot of shouting and what seemed like a struggle in the economy cabin.

"I peered through the curtain to see a man standing up on the seats and cursing and pushing other passengers.

"The crew were very quick to react and restrain the guy, as did other male passengers who pulled him to the ground before the disruptive passenger could be restrained properly.

"A large amount of police came on board to take the man off the plane."

The drunk man could be heard swearing and shouting at police as they escorted him away

'That time when you help restrain and handcuff a nutter at 40,000ft'

Mr McNerlin, who works for "trend forecasting" company WGSN, took to Twitter to post pictures of the bite mark, along with one of himself giving the "thumbs up" as he sat in the cockpit once the plane had landed safely and was in a hangar.

He wrote: "That time when you help restrain and handcuff a nutter at 40,000ft. He bites you, but it's all OK because Captain Kendal lets you sit in the cockpit."

And he added: "At A&E after helping the British Airways stewardesses restrain a violent passenger on board yesterday's BA0104.

"Incredible team on the flight, especially Hayley, who put herself in harm's way to protect passengers. Thanks to British Airways Captain Kendal for showing me the cockpit. The bite and A&E were almost worth it."

British Airways thanked Mr McNerlin, from Stratford-upon-Avon, saying: "We hope you are all right. I'm sure Hayley would've appreciated your assistance on board. Thanks."