The two men, whose names have not been disclosed, were in the first-class cabin illegally, as they held economy class tickets, the South China Morning Post reported.
When asked to either upgrade their tickets or move to the economy class by the cabin crew, the men refused and initiated a brawl, injuring four flight attendants and one passenger in the process.
The pilot quickly cancelled the take-off and called for law enforcement. The police officer who arrived at the scene was also beaten up by the two men upon confronting them.
The men were convicted of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," and were asked to pay more than 13,000 yuan ($1,950) to Hainan Airlines in damage compensation.
The men were also blacklisted by the Chinese civil aviation, which oversees aviation incidents.
Only last month, a China-bound Delta Airlines flight had to return to Seattle after a passenger sitting in the first-class cabin assaulted a crew member.
Two people suffered non-life-threatening injuries in that incident and the male passenger was arrested by local law enforcement and the US Federal Bureau of Investigation officials after the pilot turned the plane around.
