A British Airways captain ordered 135 passengers off his plane after they complained about the arrest of a man onboard.

Ayodeji Omotade, 39, from Chatham, missed his brother's wedding in Nigeria after he complained to cabin crew about the noise being made by a deportee being restrained onboard the Heathrow to Lagos flight last month.

The deportee was taken off the flight by immigration staff and police before take-off, but moments later four officers returned and arrested British-born Mr Omotade - causing outrage among the other astounded passengers.

More officers boarded the plane to calm everything down, but the BA pilot ordered the removal of all passengers who had witnessed Mr Omotade’s arrest.

Mr Omotade, an IT consultant, was kept in police custody for eight hours after the incident on Thursday, March 27.

Mr Omotade was flying out to the Nigerian city to attend his brother’s marriage, and had in his luggage the groom’s wedding ring, shirt and suit.

He missed the ceremony because of his arrest.

He said: "I wasn’t abusive to staff on board the plane and I didn’t use any violence. I was pleading with the officers that I needed to get on the plane to get to my brother’s wedding as I had his stuff in my luggage but they wouldn’t listen to me.

"The deportee on board the plane was shouting in pidgin English 'I go die.’ It was very distressing and horrific."

Mr Omotade claims he has been banned by the airline for life as a result of the incident, his luggage was returned damaged a week later and £1,613 worth of cash hasn’t been returned.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “At approximately 2.45pm, police boarded a British Airways aircraft at Heathrow Airport to help clear passengers from the plane following the captain’s refusal to fly.

"A man in his 30s was arrested on board for affray and causing a disturbance. He has been bailed to return to Heathrow on May 9, pending further enquiries."

British Airways said in a statement: "A deportee who was being escorted caused a disturbance and other passengers became involved.

"British Airways is required by law to carry deportees under the Immigration Act of 1971.

"A number of passengers were removed from the flight by the police due to their disruptive behaviour. We take threats against our crew or passengers very seriously and this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated."