Play video content EXCLUSIVE TMZ.com

Former 'Real Housewives' star James Marchese got busted for domestic violence after allegedly getting into a fight with his wife Amber on a plane, but he swears the cops and the airline got it all wrong.

Law enforcement sources tell us the ex-'RHONJ' stars had just boarded their Virgin America red-eye flight at LAX, and before they took off the airline called cops to report James for grabbing Amber by the throat and threatening to hurt her.

LAX PD officers responded and yanked James off the plane. He was booked for felony domestic violence, but Amber immediately showed up at the police station to help bail him out.