Following the assault, which occurred on Monday (January 9), the woman was cautioned and removed from the airport, the Telegraph reports.

Stansted officials confirmed to the newspaper that the staff member worked for baggage handling company Swissport and that police had attended the incident.

A video of the passenger striking the airport worker was posted on Twitter by a fellow passenger.

https://twitter.com/STN_Airport/status/818463345812668416?ref_src=twsrc…;

He tweeted: "Late passenger slaps a member of staff @STN_Airport because she was late & gate 43 closed."

A Swissport worker later told the Telegraph: "It happened Monday morning, 9ish, the passenger had too many hand luggage bags, refused to pay or repack, and was advised the gate needed to close so aircraft could take off as already a bit late.

"Her flight was to Athens, when the gate closed that was her reaction.

"She was escorted to the front entrance of the terminal".

A spokesperson from Essex Police said: "Police responded to a reported assault on a member of staff at Stansted Airport on Monday, January 9.

"A woman was given a police caution for common assault. She was also refused to fly and was removed from the airport."