A British tourist forced a plane heading to a holiday hotspot to land after they allegedly punched a Turkish passenger repeatedly.

On September 1, a flight departed from Manchester airport to the Turkish city of Antalya.

However, the aircraft was forced to make an emergency landing in Thessaloniki Greece, after a Brit, 35, allegedly punched a 41-year-old Turkish passenger, Manchester Evening News reported.

It is not clear when the incident began, but the pilot was forced to make the pit stop at around 11pm local time.

The Brit was taken into custody after they flight landed while the alleged victim was assessed by a doctor before heading to Antalya.