Plane returns after drunken brawl on board

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - A Russian plane flying from St Petersburg in Russia to Doloman in Turkey had to turn back midflight after a drunken brawl over a young woman spun out of control, police said in a statement Friday.

Three young Russians boarded the plane drunk Thursday and "continued their party on board."

"One of them took a fancy to a girl but she did not want to socialize with the new admirer," police said.

On rejection, the passenger slapped the woman on her face several times. Another passenger immediately rose to defend her.

"A fight began, the situation started to get out of hand and the crew made the only right decision -- to turn back."

The three drunk men were detained on landing at /a St Petersburg airport. They faced fines of "dozens of thousands of dollars," police said.

The woman received medical treatment at the airport and the plane resumed its flight to Turkey.