The fracas was caught on camera by another passenger on a flight from the city of Yekaterinburg in western Russia's Sverdlovsk Oblast region to the resort city of Antalya in southern Turkey.
The attacked passenger is alleged to have acted inappropriately towards women, and was abusive to children on the plane.
Other travellers said he was swearing at the top of his voice, even threatening to blow up the plane.
One passenger named only as Valentina said: 'It all started 20 minutes before landing, when you're not allowed to leave your seat.
'People were forced to get up and run around the plane to get away from him.'
One man finally decided he had had enough and walked over to the passenger,When the drunk man, seated at the time, turned around to tell the man to mind his own business, the sober passenger punched him in the face.
Cabin staff intervened at this point but clearly recognised where the problem lay as the unnamed attacker was allowed to return to his seat unchallenged.
But male cabin crew kept a close eye on the drunk passenger for the rest of the flight and handed him over to police on arrival in Turkey.
The man was arrested at Antalya airport but later released. The police investigation continues and he could still face charges.
The man who punched him was not thought to be facing any legal action.Dramatic moment airline passenger punches drunk man in the face.
