Two passengers removed from Jetstar flight after fight over reclining seats

Two passengers were escorted off a Jetstar flight after a fight broke out over a reclined seat.

The incident occurred on Wednesday during a Phuket to Sydney flight, and involved a 27-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman.

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Speaking to radio station 3AW, onlooker Scott Haywood said the argument started after the woman reclined her seat back onto the man's mother.

He thumped the chair and the argument then reportedly became physical.

He told the station: "In the area there were about 12 of us who saw it all and they were certainly laying into each other."

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, he added: "It was a night flight, so it was two or three o'clock in the morning. This other passenger got out of his seat and whacked that woman's seat who did that to his mother three or four times."

The woman was not impressed and so "laid a punch on him". He reportedly got up and retaliated, prompting Mr Haywood and another passenger to hold the man back.

There were no serious injuries, but the incident was described as "distressing".

The pair were then separated and were both moved from business class to different parts of the plane.

Cabin crew contacted the Australian Federal Police (AFP), who met the plane at the airport in Sydney and escorted the two passengers off.

According to ABC News, Jetstar said it did not tolerate "disruptive behaviour" on its flights, adding: "We will conduct a review with a view to banning these passengers travelling with us in the future."

The AFP confirmed it was investigating the case, but wouldn't comment further as it is currently still "ongoing".