Supermodel Naomi Campbell is to be charged over an alleged air rage incident over lost luggage at Heathrow last month.

The prosecution follows a row which led to the star being hauled off a BA plane in handcuffs after staff told her that one of her bags had been lost in Terminal Five.

Reports claimed she physically and verbally assaulted both police and airline staff, as well as spitting and screaming.

Details of the charges are expected to be announced next week.

Facing charges: Naomi Campbell, seen in Cannes earlier this week, will be charged of an alleged incident of air rage

Sources said, however, that the supermodel, 37, would be prosecuted, adding: "She will be keeping the courts busy for some time to come."

 Outburst: Naomi at Heathrow last month after being taken off a plane in handcuffs

The incident occurred after the supermodel boarded a flight to LA. She checked in two pieces of luggage, but after boarding the flight was told by staff in the first class cabin that one her bags had been lost.

They told her she would have to leave the flight, apparently causing Campbell to explode with rage. Reports described how she yelled "A***holes. You are all a***holes" at police and also abused BA staff.

"Why can't you do anything right? Get all my bags on this flight. I'm Naomi Campbell," she was reported as saying, yelling "bloody fools" at the BA crew and "what are you looking at?" at other passengers.

One crew member was said to have attempted to restrain her, while female staff reportedly collapsed in tears as the incident escalated.

Armed police officers took her off the plane. She was later released on bail on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.

Witnesses said she spat in the face of one officer and tried to kick and punch others.

Although there has been no official confirmation, BA is understood to have imposed a lifetime ban on the supermodel.

She was initially reported to have pleaded with the airline to overturn the ban, claiming she had spent tens of thousands of pounds with it over the years, but later told a Brazilian newspaper that she was boycotting BA, not the other way round.

After flying to Rio from London on Brazilian carrier TAM, she reportedly said: "Someone from BA asked that I return to fly with them but this will not occur so early. I am speaking for all those who have been disrespected."