A retired boxer disarmed a knife attacker who had taken airport ground staff hostage in Kazakhstan.

The terrifying incident began when the 67-year-old suspect pulled out a blade after being asked to show his identification at the security checkpoint at Almaty airport on March 7.

Footage shows the elderly man taking a 21-year-old female security officer hostage, yanking her by the hair, and threatening to stab her as she trembles in fear.

The attacker also claimed to have a bomb that could detonate from his phone, threatening to blow up the airport.

Without hesitation, former boxing champion Musa Abdraim intervened, asking the knifeman to release the frightened woman and take him instead.

Remarkably, the attacker agreed to free the captive.

Abdraim then pounced on him and, in a matter of seconds, disarmed the suspect by grabbing the knife with his bare hands.

Police and security personnel quickly pinned the man to the ground and apprehended him.

Abdraim said: 'I came to the airport to see off my relatives. Suddenly I heard a girl scream and immediately ran there. I saw that he was going to stab her.

'In the past, I did boxing, martial arts, Thai boxing, kickboxing, but that was a long time ago.'

Authorities later confirmed that the suspect is a resident of Almaty and is facing up to 12 years in prison for the attack.

Kazakhstan's President, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, has announced that Abdraim will be awarded a state medal for his heroism.

The World Boxing Council (WBC) names him as 'Hero of Humanity' recognising his extraordinary bravery.