This is the moment an enraged passenger punches a flight attendant and knocks out two of her teeth. The woman, named by cops as Vyvianna Quinonez, 28, was allegedly provoked after she was asked to put her mask over her nose and prepare for landing.

The stewardess lost two teeth and sustained minor facial injuries on the flight from Sacramento to San Diego, USA. After the Southwest Airlines flight landed in San Diego International Airport in California, USA, Quinonez was immediately arrested for battery on May 23, police said.

Michelle Manner, 57, was returning home from vacation when she noticed the brawl from her seat, two rows behind, about an hour into the flight and began recording.

She said: "There was an altercation about five minutes before the fight.

"I noticed the screaming back and forth.

"It was about wearing face masks all the way over your nose.

"I had my phone already in my hand when the flight attendant came back out to scream some more at the passengers - so I hit video rather quickly.

"I thought 'oh my God, is this really happening?'

"I focused on holding my phone still so that the video can serve its purpose, including evidence."

The video appears to shows Quinonez, who as sat in an aisle seat at the end of the plane, jump up and begin hitting the poor stewardess as other passengers scream.

She continues to throw punches until another male passenger steps between them and orders her to stop.

Credit risk analyst Michelle said: "It was dead silent in that airplane. Nobody said a word.

"We landed and we were all asked to stay in our seats while the police were on their way."

Her video was handed over to the police after she exited the plane but says she hasn't heard back from them yet and plans to complain to Southwest Airlines.

The alleged assailant was taken into police custody and charged with federal battery, as well as given a lifetime ban from flying with Southwest Airlines.

The flight attendant, who has been kept anonymous, was taken to Scripps Memorial Hospital for treatment.

The altercation led to an alcohol ban on all flights from the airline until the end of July to prevent further similar incidents.

A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines said: “The passenger repeatedly ignored standard inflight instructions and became verbally and physically abusive upon landing.

“Law enforcement officials were requested to meet the flight upon arrival, and the passenger was taken into custody.

“We do not condone or tolerate verbal or physical abuse of our flight crews, who are responsible for the safety of our passengers.”