India- A female flight attendant has been suspended by Qantas after an “in-flight incident” with the actor Ralph Fiennes, the Australian airline said yesterday.

The star of The English Patient and Schindler’s List allegedly became “amorous” with Lisa Robertson, 38, in a lavatory on a flight from Australia to India last month.

At least two crew members saw the pair leave the cubicle within moments of each other during the flight from Darwin to Mumbai on Jan 24.

“The flight attendant has been stood down following an in-flight incident,” a Qantas spokesman said. “She is in the middle of a disciplinary process and the case is still panning out.”

Ms Robertson, who has been suspended from duty, has denied having sex with Mr Fiennes, 44, after becoming friendly with him during the flight. She started chatting after serving him in the business class section.

Mr Fiennes had been in Australia to perform at the Sydney Festival, where he starred in the Samuel Beckett play First Love.

He separated from his long-time partner, Francesca Annis, last year.

Ms Robertson served in the New South Wales police force for 14 years before joining Qantas in September, 2004. She is a qualified scuba diver.