Oleg Saprykin 'intoxicated' after New Year festivities in Black Sea resort of Sochi

Reports claim the 37-year-old demanded a whisky top-up on flight to Moscow

One account claimed he jumped out of his seat, screamed at flight attendant and struck her on the head as she sought to calm him

The Aurora Airlines plane then made an emergency landing in city of Voronezh

Saprykin once starred for Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes and Ottawa Senators in the NHL

A Russian former NHL ice hockey star floored an air stewardess mid-flight after she refused to top up his whisky - causing the pilot to make an emergency landing, it has been claimed.

The business class passenger, identified by Moscow media as Oleg Saprykin, was said to have been intoxicated after New Year festivities in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

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Reports claim the 37-year-old - who had seven seasons in the NHL in North America and has a homes in Phoenix and Moscow - demanded a top-up of whisky during an Aurora Airlines flight from the city to Moscow.

One account reported that he jumped out of his seat, screamed at the flight attendant, and struck her on the head as she sought to calm him.

A Russian former NHL ice hockey star identified by Russian media as Oleg Saprykin floored an air stewardess mid-flight after she refused to top up his whisky - causing the pilot to make an emergency landing, it has been claimed. A video released by the Russian Interior Ministry shows him shouting at flight crew in a foul-mouthed rant

Reports claim the 37-year-old - who had seven seasons in the NHL in North America and has a homes in Phoenix and Moscow - demanded a top-up of whisky during an Aurora Airlines flight from the city to Moscow. Saprykin is pictured in action in 2009

'The young woman fell on the floor and was badly bruised,' according to a report.

A video released by the Russian Interior Ministry then shows him shouting at flight crew in a foul-mouthed rant. The plane then made an emergency landing in Voronezh.

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A source at Voronezh airport told Interfax: 'The passenger attacked the flight attendant with such force that she collapsed on the floor.

'The pilot then took a decision to interrupt the flight.'

The captain asked for an emergency landing in Voronezh.

The passenger was detained and seen in a video released by the Russian Interior Ministry in only underwear banging on a cell door and throwing broken furniture through the bars.

Astonishingly after being fined for 'hooliganism', he was released and later flew back to Moscow with his wife and children on another flight.

'As soon as the drunk man was detained, the plane continued the flight to Moscow,' said the source.

Reports say the flight attendant declined to file a complaint against the famous passenger - who has both Russian and Canadian citizenship.

The passenger was detained and seen in a video released by the Russian Interior Ministry in only underwear banging on a cell door and throwing broken furniture through the bars

'For this reason he could not be charged with hooliganism,' said a source.

Instead he paid a 'small fine', say reports.

'It is unclear why she or the airline refused to file an official complaint for behaviour that warranted an emergency landing.'

One report said her had boasted to the airline crew and arresting officers of his 'friends in Moscow'.

Now playing in Russia, he formerly starred for the Calgary Flames, Phoenix Coyotes and Ottawa Senators.

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The airline is a subsidiary of state carrier Aeroflot.