Actor Michael-Anthony Taylor was forced to ‘’contort his body into a series of positions’’ including crouching and kneeling due to the closest passenger ‘’spilling over’’ into his window seat during a long-haul flight from Sydney.

According to a claim lodged by his legal team, cabin crew refused numerous requests by Mr Taylor to be moved to a different seat, to sit in the aisle or even to sit on the toilet seat instead.

The statement of claim, filed in the Federal Court of Australia late last week, said the incident had exacerbated the 67-year-old’s scoliosis and also caused permanent back and neck injuries.

Mr Taylor is also suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder as a result of the incident, for which he is now seeking more than $100,000 in damages.

Mr Taylor fought back tears on Monday, and said he felt no ill will towards the passengers but just wanted the airline to ‘’change their attitude towards passenger seating’’.

The actor moved to the region from the US two decades ago, and has enjoyed a steady career – appearing in TV commercials, mini-series and feature films including a part in 2016’s Gods of Egypt with Gerard Butler.

As a result of the incident, on an economy-class flight in December 2015, he has lost income and will incur ongoing medical costs according to his claim.

Shine Lawyers transport law manager Thomas Janson said the claim had been filed under the Montreal Convention, an international treaty that governs passenger injury on international flights.

‘’We have filed a claim ... for the injuries that Michael has suffered as a result of being confined to a small area due to the encroaching of the other passenger’s bulk into his seat and seating space,’’ Mr Janson said.

‘’This lawsuit could have been avoided in the first place onboard the flight by Michael being moved to a different seat or re-booked onto a later flight.’’

Mr Janson said the case could have ramifications for all airlines.

‘’Airline insurers will almost certainly force airlines to re-evaluate how and where they seat passengers and whether there needs to be a complete overhaul of the interiors of airline cabins in order to prevent similar claims,’’ he said.

A spokesperson for American Airlines said all 310 seats of the flight in question, on a 777-300ER aircraft, had been occupied.

US Federal regulations did not allow passengers to sit in jump seats.

‘’We just received the lawsuit and we are reviewing the allegations,’’ the spokesperson said.