Newsroom
A 35-year-old man has died after a major mid-air disturbance on a Jet2 flight from Cyprus to Manchester, during which passengers and cabin crew reportedly had to restrain him.
Police said the incident happened in the early hours of Monday on a flight traveling from Larnaca to Manchester after reports that a man had become aggressive and disruptive and allegedly assaulted both another passenger and a member of the cabin crew.
According to the BBC, when the plane landed at Manchester Airport, officers boarded and found the man, named as Callum Kerr, from Warrington, being held at the back of the aircraft by fellow travelers and staff.
Greater Manchester Police said officers then handcuffed Kerr but quickly realized he was unresponsive. Emergency first aid was given on board, and CPR was started before he was taken to hospital. He died on Tuesday.
Kerr, who was known as a bare-knuckle fighter, is now at the center of an investigation into exactly what happened during the flight and after police boarded the aircraft.
In a tribute, his loved ones described him as “a family man, father to three beautiful young children, a lover of sport, and with a heart of gold.”
Police said the disturbance happened shortly before 2.30am on Monday, with reports of a man acting aggressively towards passengers and crew. Officers were called as the flight approached Manchester.
Chief Superintendent Mike Allen said many people on board had witnessed the violence and disruption before police arrived. He added that passengers and crew had worked together to restrain Kerr and bring the incident to an end.
Because Kerr died after coming into contact with police, the case has been automatically referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which will examine the actions of the five officers who boarded the plane.
The watchdog said officers are currently being treated as witnesses, not suspects, and investigators are reviewing evidence, including body-worn camera footage and initial police statements.
At the same time, Greater Manchester Police are also carrying out a separate investigation into the wider incident on board, including the actions of members of the public who were involved in restraining Kerr.
Jet2 said it was offering its condolences to Kerr’s family and friends but would not comment further while investigations are ongoing.
Source: BBC
