A man has passed away after reportedly becoming unruly on a Jet2 flight from Cyprus to the UK, leading fellow passengers to restrain him until the plane landed.
Callum Kerr, 35, was aboard the flight from Larnaca to Manchester on June 21 when witnesses noted that his behavior grew more aggressive throughout the five-hour trip.
Passengers reported that Kerr had been drinking prior to the flight and had an argument with his girlfriend early on. According to those present, cabin crew later relocated the woman to another seat.
Witnesses claimed that Kerr then started pacing the aisle, yelling at passengers, before headbutting one individual and threatening to fight others.
Callum Kerr was traveling from Cyprus.
Two passengers shared with Talk to the Press that several individuals intervened to restrain Kerr until the aircraft landed at Manchester Airport around 2:25 a.m. on Monday, June 22, as reported by LADbible.
“There was a lot of panic; you never know what someone might do on an airplane. My daughter was with us; she was getting anxious and upset by the whole situation,” one passenger recounted, according to the outlet.
“There were also a few frightened children on the plane, and the flight attendants were in tears. It was a tough situation; there was a lot of chaos and confusion while we were in the air.”
Another passenger stated that Kerr became “increasingly aggressive,” claiming he was “walking up and down the aisle banging on the overhead compartments.”
“They wouldn’t allow anyone to disembark from the plane.”
The witness further stated that after “a man made eye contact with him,” Kerr supposedly headbutted the individual. They mentioned that the cabin crew then “requested assistance from any strong passengers,” noting that “approximately three or four passengers were holding him down.”
“Upon landing in Manchester, it became quiet; he had been yelling throughout the flight, and then he fell silent,” the passenger recounted.
“When we landed, the police boarded the aircraft, hurried to the rear, closed the curtain, and we observed them performing CPR.
“One police officer hurried by with a defibrillator, while another followed with a medical kit.”
“They wouldn’t permit anyone to leave the plane for about an hour, until they quickly ushered us onto coaches into an empty room and insisted we couldn’t leave without providing a statement.”
“He was taken to the hospital due to his medical condition.”
As per reports, officers placed Kerr in handcuffs, but it soon became clear that he was unresponsive. The police initiated CPR and called for a defibrillator before he was transported to a hospital.
Greater Manchester Police stated that they were alerted after receiving reports of an assault on the flight from Larnaca.
“An investigation is currently in progress after a man became critically ill following reports that the same person had exhibited aggressive and disruptive behavior towards a passenger and crew members on a flight arriving at Manchester Airport,” a police spokesperson mentioned, as reported by LADbible.
At approximately 2:25 am, we received reports of an assault that occurred on a flight from Larnaca, Cyprus.
Officers responded and found a man who had been restrained. The man, in his 30s, was transported to the hospital due to his condition.
Initially, police reported that the man was in stable but critical condition. However, Kerr’s family later informed the Manchester Evening News that he passed away on Tuesday afternoon.
In a statement, his family expressed: “Callum was a family man, a father to three beautiful young children, a sports enthusiast, and had a heart of gold.”
Jet2 has confirmed the incident.
Greater Manchester Police stated that the matter has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which will investigate the officers’ actions and decision-making to gain a clearer understanding of the circumstances surrounding Kerr’s death.
Jet2 also acknowledged the incident in a statement released on Tuesday.
“We can confirm that flight LS966 from Larnaca to Manchester requested a priority landing yesterday morning due to a disruptive passenger incident,” a spokesperson stated.
“We can confirm that a passenger has been taken to the hospital. As an investigation is currently ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to provide any further comments at this time.”
