An emotional girlfriend caused a flight to be delayed by an hour and 40 minutes after fighting in the departure hall, then demanding to be seated next to her partner.

The HK Express flight UO559 from Da Nang, Vietnam, to Hong Kong was scheduled to depart at 6:30 pm local time on November 2, but only left the gate at 8:10 pm due to the feuding pair.

Passengers said the drama started even before boarding, with the female passenger reportedly yelling at her partner as they waited to be board the aircraft.

The man allegedly claimed that his girlfriend had been unfaithful, while she accused him of inappropriate sexual behaviour and ogling other female passengers.

She also claimed he had previously assaulted her '40 times' and had medical records to prove it.

Once on board the Airbus A320, the couple were seated in separate rows. But the woman became agitated and demanded to be moved next to her boyfriend.

Flight attendants informed her that seating had already been assigned and could not be changed, which triggered another outburst.

Dramatic footage shows the hot-headed woman arguing with crew members as other travellers watched in disbelief.

She then reportedly pushed a flight attendant in front of her, and other crew members tried to restrain her.

One crew member warned that she would not be allowed to continue on the flight if she did not calm down.

Although she briefly settled and asked if she could stay if she behaved, she soon became aggressive again, pushing the flight attendant a second time.

The couple was eventually removed from the cabin, allowing the flight to depart. The aircraft arrived at the Hong Kong International Airport some 71 minutes behind schedule, touching down at 10:36 pm.

HK Express, a Hong Kong-based low-cost airline, is recognised for its budget-friendly fares and short-haul routes throughout Asia.