Beijing, Jul 3 (IANS): Five Chinese women were ordered to get off a plane after female family members of one of them assaulted a woman for reclining her seat. The family was also ordered to pay 1,000 yuan in damages.

An 18-year-old woman named Xu was travelling along with her mother, aunt and a woman classmate on a flight from Kunming in Yunnan province to Shenyang in Liaoning province.

A ruckus started when a woman passenger named Liu tried to recline her seat, despite objections from Xu, who was seated behind her, the China Daily reported.

Xu kicked Liu's seat in anger, prompting Liu, in her 30s, to slap Xu in the face.

Xu's mother, aunt and classmate leapt to her defence and beat up Liu, who got scratches on her body and her clothes were torn, police said.

The plane crew tried to mediate, but failed.

Police at the Wuhan airport in Hubei province removed all five women from the plane when it made a scheduled stop. The captain said their behaviour was a risk to the flight's safety.

Xu was returning from a holiday in Kunming to celebrate her graduation from high school. She and her family were ordered to cover Liu's medical expenses.