Vikings star Jonathan Rhys Meyer was detained by police Sunday following an ugly meltdown on an American Airlines flight.

Witnesses say that Meyers, his wife Mara Lane, and their one-year-old son Wolf were seated together on a flight to Los Angeles.

The couple reportedly got into a noisy argument, with Meyers "verbally abusing" his wife, according to TMZ.

The news site reports that Meyers had an outburst "laced with profanities" before trying to smoke an e-cigarette in the plane's bathroom - the actor later denied he was vaping on board.

Police say Meyers followed directions when the cabin crew asked him to stop vaping, but officers were waiting to take him into custody when the plane landed.

An information officer for Los Angeles International Airport says that Meyers was "obviously aggravated with the situation with his wife. They had been arguing."

Because the argument didn't count as a crime, Meyers and his family were released less than a half hour after being detained.

"Sometimes it's like two steps forward, one step back."

Over the past decade, Meyers has dealt with arrests for public intoxication and gone to rehab several times.

Last year, the Irish actor was spotted staggering through the Dublin Airport before being led away by guards.

"He wasn't causing any hassle with anyone, he just seemed to be really intoxicated. It was very sad to see him like this," a witness said at the time.

"He was completely out of it. Other passengers were concerned to see him in such a way just after 10 a.m."

Soon after, Meyers' wife wrote a heartfelt Instagram post explaining his behavior.

"With much sadness, we open our hearts to share that J and I lost our second child, who was baking in the oven," she wrote.

"Child was very very much wanted (right now especially by J, so he took the news particularly not so well) and we are still working with coping skills over here."

Lane added that "depression is a real concern from past abuse as well as alcoholism which he was born with."

"He has been able to turn any ugliness and hurt in his life into art and is the strongest person I know."

"It does seem though that every time we seem to be making so much progress," she admitted, "sometimes it's like two steps forward, one step back."

Hopefully Meyers and his family are alright.

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