Flight turned back after drunk Australian passenger rips TV from seat and attacks crew

A Brisbane-bound plane has been forced to turn back to Singapore after an apparently intoxicated Australian passenger flew into a rage.

Passengers on board Etihad Airways Flight 470 said they had to help restrain the man, thought to be in his early 30s, after he began behaving aggressively about 40 minutes into the flight.

It is claimed a flight attendant was attacked during the drama and a TV screen was ripped from a seat.

"He assaulted one of the male flight attendants and then guys on the plane just pinned him down and held him down and restrained him," passenger Tracey Mewis told the ABC.

Callum Glass, also on the flight, said the man appeared concerned over the safety of the aircraft.

"He just started attacking the TV screen and hitting it, and he ripped it out thinking there was a bomb behind it," Mr Glass said.

The man was detained by police upon the plane's return to Singapore.

The flight eventually landed in Brisbane about midday yesterday.

Etihad Airways confirmed the diversion was due to an unruly passenger.

"The passenger was detained by authorities on arrival in Singapore," a spokesman said.

"Etihad Airways takes such incidents seriously and has a zero tolerance policy towards disruptive behaviour in-flight.

"Etihad Airways apologises for the delay and is providing assistance to passengers with onward connections."