The captain of a British Airways jet later said he had never come across anything like it in more than 30 years as a pilot.

It was alleged that a passenger and a cabin crew member were punched during the incident.

Belinda Seery, 34, denied endangering an aircraft and two charges of common assault when she appeared at Chichester Crown Court.

The offences are alleged to have taken place on a flight from Gatwick to Antigua in December 1997.

Guy Russell, prosecuting, said: "This case is to do with what has become known in common parlance as air rage."

He alleged that Seery punched a man sitting next to her during the flight.

He said the prosecution maintained that a female member of the cabin crew was also punched after Seery was challenged about smoking in the aircraft toilet.

Mr Russell said the crew finally used handcuffs and strapped Seery into her seat on the upper deck.

He said: "Her legs could not be strapped and she was kicking out and asking other passengers to photograph her, claiming it was an infringement of her rights."

He said when police questioned Seery, of Barwell Road, Birmingham, she denied anything untoward had happened.

The trial continues.

byArgusrep

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.