Boris Johnson caught up in mid-air drama after attempting to calm 'off his head' passenger

The Mayor of London is said to have made efforts to placate a reportedly loud and abusive passenger on his return from Kuala Lumpur this morning.

During the 13 hour and 40 minute flight from the Malaysian capital to London, cabin crew are believed to have later been forced to restrain the man, despite Mr Johnson's pleas for him to quieten down.

Police confirmed a 43-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and common assault once the Malaysia Airlines flight touched down at London's Heathrow airport.

It is not believed Mr Johnson, 50, was the victim.

The mayor's official spokesman said: "The mayor, along with a number of other passengers and members of the cabin crew, did make several attempts to calm the gentleman concerned but to no avail.

"We understand the gentleman was restrained by the crew and detained by police on arrival at Heathrow."

Eileen Burbridge, who was travelling as part of the mayor's entourage on board the flight, posted a picture of the passenger apparently being restrained by cabin crew.

She wrote on Twitter: "So impressed with MH2 cabin crew (Kuala Lumpur-LHR); amazing professionalism/handling of passenger who was off his head."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: "At approximately 5.40am today, police were contacted following reports of a disruptive passenger on a flight to Heathrow airport.

"The passenger, a man aged 43, was arrested on suspicion of being drunk on board an aircraft and common assault.

"He was taken to a west London police station where he remains in custody."

Mr Johnson, who will attempt to return to the House of Commons as a Conservative candidate at next year's general election, had travelled to Malaysia as part of a high-profile six-day trip to the Far East promoting bilateral trade and investment.