A North Wollongong resident is suing American Airlines after he was crushed by two "grossly obese" passengers seated beside each other during a 14-hour flight to Los Angeles.

Actor Michael-Anthony Taylor was forced to "contort his body into a series of positions" including crouching and kneeling due to the passenger closest to him "spilling over" into his window seat during a long-haul flight from Sydney.

Michael-Anthony Taylor says he was injured after being crushed by passengers next to him on an American Airlines flight. Credit:Sylvia Liber

According to a claim lodged by his legal team, cabin crew refused numerous requests by Mr Taylor to be moved to a different seat, to sit in the aisle or even to sit on the toilet seat instead.

The statement of claim, filed in the Federal Court of Australia late last week, said the incident had exacerbated the 67-year-old's scoliosis and also caused permanent back and neck injuries.