Revealed: What caused that 'MAGA hat' fight on BA flight

A British TV presenter has told how she was punched in the face as she boarded a flight to the US after revealing herself as a Donald Trump supporter.

Although former model Antonia Harman, 43, was attacked, she was the one removed from the British Airways flight to Austin, Texas, on Monday.

She told MailOnline: 'People hate Trump so much that you can't talk about him - it's a political war.'

Antonia has spoken out after reports earlier this week claimed a brutal fight had erupted on the flight over a Trump MAGA hat.

However, the energy healer from Cornwall, confirmed this was not the case.  

Antonia was flying to Austin with a friend to promote her new TV show, The Healing Revolution, which airs on Sky in December.

She said she was punched out of the blue by a woman in her sixties who she believes to be from Mexico.

Antonia said: 'We were on the shuttle bus at Heathrow on the way to the flight and I began chatting to people, most of them American, about what I should do while I was in Austin for the next week.

'It was very good humoured and friendly and various people chipped in. I then began speaking to a man in his thirties about broader issues and the election.

'We spoke about Joe Rogan's podcast which Donald Trump appeared on and I began talking about that.

'I'm a big fan of Donald Trump and I make no secret of that, I think you should be able to air your political views without being physically attacked for them.

'I mentioned other people, the conservative TV host Tucker Carlson among them and he's also known to upset people of a certain political view.

'As the bus neared the plane I was standing with my arm up holding the rail above my head when a lady in her sixties with tight curly hair walked into my arm.

'I was surprised by that and pulled my arm down out of the way. It may have accidentally brushed her face, but no more than that but she went berserk, she looked possessed by a demon.

'She punched me with full force in the face and then moved away. I was so shocked and horrified that I burst into tears, I could not believe what had just happened.

'She went in the direction of economy and I went and took my seat in business class. For about five minutes I sat there crying and shaking and then felt I had to say something to someone.

'I called an in-flight supervisor and told her I had been assaulted and at first she was very sympathetic.

'The woman was identified and lied about what had happened, saying that I had assaulted her, which simply never happened.

'The next thing I knew, seven armed police were entering the plane and I could sense that the mood had turned against me.

'I was told that I would have to leave the plane and was marched off in front of other passengers by these armed officers, it was incredibly humiliating.

'I was in a terrible state, shaking and sobbing so much that I fell to the floor in the terminal. It was appalling and I feel I was the one victimised despite being the one who was assaulted.

'I said I didn't want to press charges against the attacker, I've no desire to ruin her life, but I feel BA have much to answer for.

'I was treated appallingly by an airline that I fly frequently with and until now had always had impeccable service from.

'They owe me an apology at the very least and a refund of the hundreds of pounds I had to spend booking a hotel so that I could catch the next available flight to Austin the following day.

'If nothing else it shows how toxic the atmosphere has become in the lead up to the US election, when a British woman can't express her admiration for Trump without being punched in the face for it.

'I hope he wins a resounding victory, more now than ever.'

British Airways declined to comment and referred MailOnline to the Metropolitan Police. 

A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police said: 'Shortly after 12.45pm on Monday, October 28, police at Heathrow were made aware of an incident involving two women waiting to board a plane in Terminal 5.

'A woman in her 40s and a woman in her 60s made counter allegations of affray. Enquiries are ongoing.'