Fiona Weir, 32, is said to have had a vodka bottle smashed over her head in November at the end of an Airtours International flight bound for Malaga, Spain.

Steven Handy: Charged by Spanish authorities

A statement released through her solicitor, Iain Jenkins, said: "Fiona did not feel that her future lay with Airtours and was disappointed with some of the elements of their handling of her case.

"We are currently preparing a legal case against Airtours."

The stewardess, of Wimbledon, south-west London, has since begun a new job with the airline Flying Colours.

Mr Jenkins, of Leeds-based solicitors Lee and Priestley, added: "She is busy trying to rebuild her life after the terrible trauma she has endured.

"Fiona is very grateful to members of the public who have been so kind to her after the incident."

Feared death

After the incident, Ms Weir broke down in tears at a news conference where she was flanked by Airtours executives.

She said she thought she was going to be killed, and called for troublemakers to be banned from flights.

She had worked for the company for six years.

A spokeswoman for Airtours said: "We are pleased to see Fiona has sufficiently recovered to resume her flying career.

"We will do all we can to bring the matter to a satisfactory conclusion."