Mary Roberts, 53, and 23-year-old Henrietta Mitaiare, allegedly pushed Captain Guido Keel to the floor, then scratched and kicked him after their flight arrived at Heathrow Airport in May last year.

Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court heard the women ,who are both from London, were travelling from Zurich with Mitaiare’s young daughter when a ‘tussle’ broke out.

Mitaiare asked a flight attendant to put her buggy in the cabin rather than the aircraft hold as the pushchair was ‘too expensive’, Sky News reports.

Apparently that was not on and two airport staff arrived an argument ensued, and the woman’s mother stepped in.

Disembarking at Heathrow, Mitaiare said she wanted to make a complaint, which caused Captain Keel to come out from the cockpit.

Prosecutor Arlene De Silva said he was pushed back into the cockpit, there was a scuffle and Mitairare ended up “on top of him”.

“The mother also went into the cockpit and was kicking the captain while he was on the floor, saying ‘Get off my daughter’,” the prosecutor added.

Capt Keel sustained scratches to his face and arm and a bite on his upper arm.

The women, who deny the charges, were charged with failing to obey the lawful commands of the aircraft’s captain and assault by beating on board.

The case continues.