Passengers were forced to break up a fight between two men after a row over luggage space turned physical moments before a plane was due to take off in Colombia. 

Fellow travellers stepped in to separate the pair, pinning one man into an empty seat as the scuffle erupted aboard the aircraft at El Dorado International Airport in Bogota, Colombia.

Footage reveals one man leaning over the seat from behind and grabbing the passenger in front. 

The victim desperately tries to fend him off using his arms and what appears to be an in-flight magazine.  

The attacker maintains his grip for at least eight seconds as fellow travellers try to break up the fight.

Another traveller then steps in, grabbing the man by the hood of his jacket and dragging him away. 

The victim, understood to be a Mexican national, turns back towards the camera with a look of horror on his face. 

With the help of another passenger, the heroic passenger manages to wrestle the offender into the plane's aisle as stunned onlookers watch on. 

The struggle continues for around 20 seconds before the man is lifted off his feet and slammed into an empty row of seats. 

He is then pinned down by the heroic passenger, bringing the turbulent mid-air confrontation to an end.  

It is understood the fight erupted after the man became enraged with a fellow flyer for trying to stow his carry-on bag in the overhead compartment.

Bogota Airport and Colombia’s National Police have been approached for further comment. 

It comes after a mass brawl started between British passengers in February on a flight from Turkey to Manchester, forcing the jet to make an emergency diversion.

Dramatic footage showed passengers screaming as travellers traded punches and wrestled in the aisle mid-air.

Chaos quickly spread through the cabin, with terrified families and elderly travellers caught up in the disorder.

Witnesses described seeing blood on seats and teeth scattered on the floor.

The flight was diverted to Brussels after violence reportedly broke out when one passenger tried to snatch another's phone.

Police boarded the aircraft on landing and took two individuals into custody.

Passengers claimed one of those detained had been drinking heavily and making racist remarks before the situation escalated into a confrontation with cabin crew over cigarettes.

'At one point it became very physical. Passengers were distressed. People were frightened. The atmosphere turned chaotic,' one traveller said.

Another added: 'Respect to the passengers who stood up against the racism, including the kind person who sat with and comforted those shaken. The Jet2 crew dealt with the situation calmly and professionally.'

The pilot later told passengers that in 30 years of flying he could count his emergency landings on one hand, adding he had never witnessed an incident as violent.

The aircraft later continued to Manchester following the unscheduled diversion.

Jet2 described the behaviour as 'appalling' and said those involved would be banned for life.