US jet diverted after fight over seat

A US passenger jet had to make an unscheduled landing due to a fight over seat back reclining, the second time such incident within a week.

The incident involved a passenger on an American Airlines flight from Miami to Paris that had to be diverted to Boston, where the passenger was ordered off the plane.

The man became enraged when the woman in front of him reclined her seat, officials said, according to The Boston Globe.

He was identified by the US attorney's office in Boston as Edmund Alexandre, 60, of Paris.

In this case, unlike a similar incident last Sunday on a domestic connection, a federal air marshal was aboard the trans-Atlantic flight.

Alexandre was subdued and handcuffed after he followed a crew member toward the back of the plane and grabbed the crew member's arm.

The crew member intervened when Alexandre became disruptive, according to a news release issued by the US attorney's office.

The crew member asked Alexandre to calm down, but he continued to raise his voice, the statement said.

Alexandre was taken into custody and turned over to authorities in Boston.

He faces charges including interfering with the flight crew, with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted.

The earlier incident involved a United Airlines flight, which made an unscheduled landing on Sunday in Chicago after a fight erupted when a man stopped the passenger in front of him from leaning her seat back.

The man allegedly used a device forbidden by most US airlines that blocked her seat from reclining.

The woman complained and splashed water on him.

Both passengers were let off the plane.

Neither was arrested, but reports said they could face fines.