Tries To Punch, Grab Crotch Of Pilot

Ya gotta hand it to the French... as even their most ridiculous displays of outrage do carry a certain panache.

London's Daily Telegraph reports Mathias Guerrand-Hermes was arrested this week following a confrontation on an Air France flight from Paris to New York.

The fracas reportedly began when the dual-monikered Frenchman -- do we even have to mention he's an heir to the Hermes fashion house? -- sat on a female passenger's armrest, and refused to move when cabin attendants pointed out such behavior was quite gauche.

In fact, Guerrand-Hermes "moved toward the couple" when the woman's husband told the prima donna (sorry, that's Italian... and feminine -- Ed.) to move his derriere. (French again!)

The situation escalated to the point the plane's pilot came out to investigate. Shortly after, Guerrand-Hermes allegedly tried to punch the captain... and "grab his testicles," according to the Telegraph report.

"I am not going to behave myself," he reportedly told the stunned crew.

What transpired next isn't exactly clear -- we can guess -- but the situation ended with Guerrand-Hermes handcuffed to a seat, until the plane landed at JFK.

Guerrand-Hermes appeared this week before a federal court in Brooklyn, on charges of interfering with the plane's flight crew. He faces up to 20 years in jail for the incident, though a six-month prison stint or even probation is more likely.

For his part, Guerrand-Hermes told the court he accidentally combined the prescription drug Propofan with "quite a bit of alcohol," reports The New York Times.

Officials with the FBI say the 36-year-old has since been released on a $34,500 personal bond.

Reports do not indicate whether or not the Frenchman is confined to the Brooklyn area until his case is heard... though ANN offers this friendly advice should Guerrand-Hermes be forced to ride the subway to court.

Mathias... you'd best not try any more crotch-grabbing. New Yorkers tend to frown on such behavior, outside a Yankees or Rangers game.

FMI: www.hermes.com