PAPEETE — Qantas flight QF21 from Melbourne to Dallas was diverted to Papeete, Tahiti, on Friday after a passenger allegedly bit a flight attendant during the long-haul service. Tahitian authorities detained the passenger upon arrival, and Qantas issued a no-fly ban covering all future Qantas and Jetstar flights.

The aircraft departed Melbourne at 2.30pm on Friday and was diverted seven hours into the journey. Passengers and other crew members assisted the flight attendant during the alleged assault. After refuelling, the plane resumed its route about 35 minutes later and arrived in Dallas on Saturday morning, a few hours behind schedule.

Tahitian police boarded the plane in Papeete, restrained the passenger face down on the floor and took him into custody. The passenger is not an Australian national.

"The safety of our customers and our crew is our number one priority and we have zero tolerance for disruptive or threatening behaviour on our flights," a Qantas spokesperson said.

In footage from the flight, the passenger was shown stumbling out of the toilet while doing up his belt. He appeared to be stumbling and slurring his words, and told a flight attendant he had wanted to walk out for a cigarette. He also asked a flight attendant if he had smoked weed. When asked to move to the back of the plane, the passenger directed an expletive at cabin crew. A flight attendant told the passenger he was behaving erratically. The passenger said, "Put that wrist lock off me again, there's problems." The footage did not show the alleged biting.

Consular officials from New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said they were aware of the detention of a New Zealander in Tahiti. "For privacy reasons no further information will be provided," a spokesperson said.

A 45-year-old man from Queanbeyan was charged with alleged disorderly and aggressive behaviour, including trying to bite another passenger's arm, after a mid-flight restraint on a flight from Canberra to Perth on 16 April, the Australian federal police said. He allegedly kicked at a cabin manager during attempts to restrain him and tried to bite the arm of another passenger assisting with the restraint. He was charged on three counts, including assault on an aircraft crew member, which carries a maximum penalty of 14 years in prison.

"Being in the air does not give anyone a free pass from the law and consequences on the ground. The AFP will put people before the courts if they are accused of breaking the law," AFP acting superintendent Peter Brindal said.