Boris Johnson wades into mid-air on-flight row involving 'head butt incident'

Johnson came to the rescue as a passenger had to be restrained during a flight

Mayor of London Boris Johnson boxes with a trainer during his visit to Fight for Peace Academy in North Woolwich, London

He may be an unlikely superhero, but Boris Johnson attempted to diffuse an incident that broke out on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to London.

Johnson was travelling back from a tour in the Far East when a passenger, described as “off his face” by one of the Mayor’s delegates, became angry and violent. He was restrained by the crew.

Delegate Eileen Burbridge praised the on-flight crew for their “professionalism” on Twitter. She also noted that there had been a “head-butt incident”.

Johnson was apparently among those to gallantly help calm the situation. Perhaps he waved his mane of hair in a hypnotic fashion or spoke at length about the tyranny of US taxes. However, whatever tactic he employed failed to work.

“The Mayor along with a number of other passengers and members of the cabin crew did make several attempts to calm the gentleman concerned but to no avail,” the Mayor's office said in a statement.

Police arrested the 43-year-old male passenger at Heathrow at 6am on suspicion of being drunk and for alleged assault.

One of the cabin crew is thought to have been injured during the incident.