The filmmaker has filed court papers alleging he teamed up with Mohamed Hadid in 2002 and they agreed to pay $226,000 (£141,250) each for a shared Bell 206 Long Ranger chopper.

But Francis alleges he was later prevented from flying in the aircraft and claims in the documents filed at Los Angeles Superior Court that it has since been sold without his knowledge, according to TMZ.com.

He is seeking unspecified damages.