THIS is the horror moment a Brit brawls with terrified easyJet passengers forcing the pilot to divert the flight.

The rampage erupted on Friday on a flight heading to Paphos, Cyprus, from London – with the man allegedly fighting passengers and crew in a drunken meltdown.

The disturbance caused the plane to divert to the northern city of Thessaloniki, Greece.

Shocking footage shows a man attacking other passengers while bystanders are frantically trying to restrain him.

Anthony Maxted, 22, wasarrested and allegedly told investigators his behaviour was due to nerves about a family reunion.

A passenger on the flight spoke of the horror moments before the drama unfolded.

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They described how everything began when the man started annoying other passengers by "being loud and swearing".

The witness said it all went downhill when the man asked for alcohol and a flight attendant asked him to calm down".

They told The Sun Online: "It got out of hand very quickly and the male was put in a headlock by another passenger, he escaped the headlock and started throwing punches at the numerous people trying to restrain him including at the crew.

"The male went absolutely psycho and had so much energy, kicking a woman in the face spitting at people and throwing punches everywhere.

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"A lot of people crying as it was so extremely scary.

"Most people had never seen anything like it in their lives and was worse than any video you usually see online.

"People locked themselves in the toilet they were so scared, an ambulance attended on the ground to fix up all the people who had been punched and were bleeding, I believe they were also taking the blood pressure of pregnant women."

The passenger said the man was eventually restrained by six "hero" men and was kept in a row of seats until the plane landed and police arrived.

The passenger added: "Everyone was so happy to get to Paphos eventually and the flight attendants were reassuring and made sure the men who helped restrained were rewarded."

Maxted, from Chelsmford, Essex, has been released on bail and will face trial in Greece on charges of endangering transportation.

He appeared in handcuffs before a public magistrate in Thessaloniki where the aircraft was forced to land.

He had spent two nights in police holding cells following the incident on Saturday with police describing him as "dishevelled and shamefaced." 

A court source told The Sun Online: "He will be summoned to face trial because the charges are so serious.

"He has been allowed to walk free but the drama is far from over for him.

"If the trial does not go in his favour an Interpol arrest warrant will be issued."   

Along with unruly behaviour and fighting with fellow passengers and crew, it is also claimed "several" empty bottles of alcohol were found on his seat.

One court witness said he had blamed his behaviour on being "overly anxious" because he was flying to Paphos to meet his family for the first time in years. 

He acknowledged his actions and in his defence and said he was incredibly anxious because he was going to Cyprus for a "family reunion, the first in many years," added the court source.

"A trial can will take place in the coming months."

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Prior to his court appearance on Monday police who drew up the charge sheet had told The Sun Online they did not expect the Brit to be treated leniently.

"To have to divert an airplane because of unruly behaviour is very costly and disrupts air traffic as well," said one well-placed cop.

"It is very unlikely he will be treated leniently."

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