A Port Authority police officer was hospitalized Thursday night after he fell off a portable stairway to a United Airlines flight while trying to arrest an unruly passenger at Newark Liberty International Airport.

Port Authority Police responded shortly before 9 p.m. for a report of an assault on a flight attendant aboard a United Airlines flight that was just arriving.

Once the plane came to a stop on the tarmac and its door was opened, 28-year-old Matthew Dingley charged the PAPD officers who responded to the call, causing them to fall down the plane’s stairs, police said.

Other officers responded to assist and were successful in restraining Dingley.

Six officers suffered non-life threatening injuries during the altercation, including one who broke four ribs. They were transported to the hospital along with the flight attendant who was injured.

Dingley was charged with aggravated assault, criminal trespassing, resisting arrest and interfering with transportation.

Olivia Rizzo may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips.

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