A flight bound for Vancouver from Munich had to be diverted to Hamburg after a man tried to light a cigarette and open plane doors at 38,000 feet.

Fellow passenger Dan Iosch heard the drama unfold over in-flight announcements, and spoke to Canadian news outlet CBC.

"Apparently at the beginning of the flight he was being a little difficult, but they decided to take off", Mr Iosch said. "I guess once we got in the air he got more and more agitated and he tried to light up a cigarette."

He added: "It was reported that there was a man in the back of the plane screaming and yelling and apparently tried to open the back door of the aircraft at 38,000 feet."

Lufthansa officials confirmed that a passenger was escorted off the plane and the flight forced to land in Hamburg, where police are investigating the incident.

The plane has been delayed by three hours.