Plane forced to turn back after man’s screaming match with crew over seat

Passengers were left furious after a plane was forced to turn back three hours into its journey after a man got into a screaming match with cabin crew.

Passengers were left fuming after a plane was forced to turn back three hours into its journey after a man refused to get up from a crew member’s seat.

The unnamed man was on a United Airlines flight from New Jersey to Israel on Sunday morning when the drama unfolded.

He was reportedly waiting for the toilet and decided to sit in the designated seat for flight crew.

When asked to get up, he refused and allegedly began to scream at staff.

United Airlines flight 90 B78X was heading form Newark airport to Tel Aviv when it was forced to turn back. Picture: Flightaware

In a statement provided to news.com.au, a United Airlines spokesperson said the flight travelling from Newark to Tel Aviv returned to Newark shortly after takeoff due to a disruptive passenger

A passenger on-board the flight said man wanted to use the bathroom, but because none were free he sat and waited in a seat intended for the cabin crew, according to YNetNews, a major Israel publication.

A man (pictured) ended up in a screaming match with staff after he refused to get up off a cabin crew’s designated seat. Picture: Twitter/Jeff Hunt

When a flight attendant allegedly raised their voice at the man and asked him to get out of the seat, he shouted back and would not get up, she said.

“Crew members told him that if he did not return to his seat, the plane would be turned back to New York,” the passenger told the publication.

But she said the man did not believe the threat, so stayed in the seat.

He was reportedly waiting for the toilet and decided to sit in the crew member’s seat. Picture: Flightaware

Passengers were then shocked to see the plane had changed its course and was returning back to New Jersey.

“No one bothered to inform us,” the woman continued. “We just noticed it on the map showing our flight path and when we landed, we saw the police waiting for the plane.”

He was seen at the airport talking to fellow passengers, allegedly claiming all he did was raise his voice in frustration. Picture: Twitter/Jeff Hunt

Footage shows the man being lead off the plane when it landed at Newark International Airport outside New York.

A frustrated passenger who then shared video from inside the airport was stunned to see the man walking around freely, adding he had “no remorse”.

“Guy who disrupted a flight to Tel Aviv and forced a return to Newark not even arrested. Just wondering the airport pleading his case. Unbelievable,” he wrote on Twitter.

Footage showed him surrounded by a group passengers explaining his version of events.

“Guy that forced our plane to turnaround half way over the Atlantic continues to make his case,” the passenger wrote.

“Claims all he did was raise his voice in frustration over delayed flight. No violence. Also, no remorse from him for delaying everyone's elses travel. SMH.”

A United Arlines spokesperson told news.com.au: “Law enforcement met the aircraft and removed the passenger.

“We rebooked our customers onto a new flight”.