An Air India flight to London was forced to return to Delhi airport on Monday shortly after take-off because of the “serious unruly behaviour of a passenger” who had a brawl with crew members mid-air, the airline said.

The flier was deboarded after the flight landed at the Delhi airport and he was later handed over to Delhi police for legal action.

The flight was rescheduled and departed for London in the afternoon.

“Air India flight AI 111 scheduled to operate Delhi-London Heathrow on April 10 returned to Delhi shortly after departure due to the serious unruly behaviour of a passenger on board. Not heeding to verbal and written warnings, the passenger continued with unruly behaviour including causing physical harm to two of the cabin crew members,” the airline said in a statement.

A Delhi police official said family members of the accused passenger claimed that he was mentally unstable.

Sources at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said the flight took off from the national capital around 6.35am and a brawl happened between the passenger and two crew members onboard.

Then the pilot in command decided to return to Delhi and landed at the national capital around 9.42am, they added. The flight had around 225 passengers.