Two women were removed from a British Airways flight at Heathrow after an altercation reportedly provoked by a Make America Great Again (Maga) cap.
The incident occurred on Saturday as the women, aged 40 and 60, were preparing to board a flight bound for Austin, Texas.
Witnesses said that one woman took offence at her fellow passenger’s red Maga hat, worn by supporters of the former US president Donald Trump, and asked that it be removed, the Sun reported.
Flight BA191 had been due to depart the airport at 12.10pm and eventually took off at 2.11pm without the two women onboard.
Punches were allegedly exchanged between the two women, both booked to fly in premium economy, before they ended up squaring up to one another in the cabin. When the captain called for assistance, police arrived at the scene to escort the passengers from the aircraft.
Arrests were not made but both women made claims of affray against the other.
Police are continuing to investigate the incident. A spokesperson said: “Shortly after 12.45pm on Monday, 28 October, police at Heathrow were made aware of an incident involving two women waiting to board a plane in Terminal 5.
“A woman in her 40s and a woman in her 60s made counter allegations of affray. Enquiries are ongoing.”
British Airways said in a statement: “We apologised to our customers for the delay and got them on the way as quickly as possible.”
A Heathrow source told the Sun: “With the US presidential election so close, tensions are sky high. Airline crew could not run the risk of a full scale punch-up at 30,000ft.
“BA officials cannot recall a flight being delayed before due to a passenger’s baseball cap. It was extraordinary.”