A Jet2 flight from Leeds to Alicante made an emergency landing in France after a 66-year-old passenger sexually assaulted a female crew member.

The man, who was allegedly drunk, has admitted putting his hand up the stewardess’s skirt and touching her intimate parts.

The incident happened while the member of crew was handing out refreshments on the Saturday morning flight, according to Mail Online.

Reports say the captain of flight LS271 decided to make an emergency landing in Nantes, where the passenger was handcuffed and arrested by French border police.

He was released on Monday but must appear in court on 13 December, according to Nantes prosecutors.

Regional Prosecutor Renaud Gaudeul told media that the accused had admitted assaulting the stewardess. A report in the French publication Ouest France said he was drunk on a combination of beer and vodka.

Flight LS271 had left Leeds at 7:00 and was due to arrive in Alicante at 10:55, but the diversion to Nantes caused a delay of just over five hours.