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A woman on board a British Airways flight to America was forcibly restrained as she tried to force open a door while at 33,000ft.

The woman attempted to turn the handle of an exit door, a federal official said, before she was held down by crew and passengers.

Police took her off flight BA213 when it touched down at Boston’s Logan Airport at 1.30pm.

The incident triggered a level 2 alert, which is used to denote that violence was involved.

A spokesman for British Airways said: “A disturbed and unruly passenger tried to force one of the doors on the plane, but not the cockpit door.

They added: “Our customers and crew deserve to have a safe and enjoyable flight and we do not tolerate abusive behaviour.

"Our crew requested that police meet the flight in Boston due to an unruly customer on board."

Read more:Ex-flight attendant jailed after trying to open plane door in midair as it prepared to land

Airport security has been tightened in America as a result of the deadly coordinated terror attacks in Paris last Friday.