Flight attendant trapped as men brawl on flight at California

Passengers on board a US flight were forced to intervene to protect a female flight attendant after she became crushed under the weight of two male passengers in a vicious brawl.

One male passenger was arrested in the fray which erupted on a Southwest flight on Sunday as it was taxiing at Burbank, California, from Dallas, ABC 7 News reports.

As travellers grabbed their bags to exit the aircraft, two male passengers began to scuffle with one female passenger and a female crew member stepping in.

"Get security captain, there's a fight back here," the female flight attendant can be heard calling out.

A man who filmed the clash told CBS LA the flight attendant "was running down the aisle toward danger and then she got trapped".

"Everyone was de-planing then all heck broke loose," Michael Krause said.

"She did a wonderful job. God bless her and I hope she's OK."

It took three men to step in before the melee was brought to an end.

Burbank police named the suspect as Chaze Mickalo Cable, 37, of Lancaster California. He was arrested for assault and battery and held on US$50,000 bail.

The male victim suffered bruising to his left eye, a cut to his nose and a chipped tooth.