British Airways Passenger 'Bitten' After Intervening To Help Cabin Crew Overcome Violent Man

Police arrested a 21-year-old man on suspicion of actual bodily harm.

A man aboard a British Airways flight was bitten when he intervened to help the crew deal with a violent passenger.

Christopher McNerlin was on a flight from Dubai to London Heathrow on Friday when he went to help a flight attendant who was dealing with the man in question.

Mr McNerlin, from Stratford-upon Avon, tweeted pictures of the bite mark on his arm, while doing a thumbs up, and joked it was "almost worth it" because the flight's captain let him see the cockpit.

Daniel Leal-Olivas/PA Wire

"Incredible team on the flight, especially Hayley, who put herself in harm’s way to protect passengers,” he tweeted.

Mr McNerlin, who works for trend forecasters WGSN, has now protected his tweets.

After the incident he had to go to hospital for a check up, according to the Press Association.

British Airways tweeted to him: "We hope you are alright. I'm sure Hayley would've appreciated your assistance on board."

A Metropolitan police spokeswoman said officers were called at around 6pm on Friday.

She added: “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.”

Mr McNerlin, who works for trend forecasters WGSN, has now protected his tweets.

A spokesman for the airline told Mashable: "Our customers and crews deserve to enjoy their flights, and not to suffer any form of abuse. Appropriate action will always be taken."

The airline told HuffPost UK said the airline would not comment further as there is now a criminal case pending.

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