Jet2 has confirmed it is conducting an internal investigation after a passenger died on board one of its flights. The airline issued a statement following the death of 35-year-old Callum Kerr, a father-of-three from Warrington, who was on a flight from Larnaca, Cyprus, to Manchester on June 21.
Witnesses reported that Mr Kerr became disruptive during the flight, allegedly after consuming alcohol before boarding. Greater Manchester Police were called to Manchester Airport at 2:25 am on Monday, June 22, following reports of a man behaving aggressively towards passengers and crew.
Restraint and medical emergency
Upon arrival, police found Mr Kerr being restrained by passengers and aircrew at the rear of the aircraft, according to the Manchester Evening News. Officers used handcuffs to detain him but quickly identified he was unresponsive and began providing first aid. CPR was commenced, and he was taken to hospital, where he died on Tuesday afternoon, June 23.
Mr Kerr, a bare-knuckle boxer, was formally identified by his family. In a statement issued through police, his family described him as "a family man, father to three beautiful young children, a lover of sport and with a heart of gold."
Police and IOPC investigations
Greater Manchester Police confirmed it had made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is now investigating the actions of the officers involved. The force also said two reports of assault—one against a passenger and one against a cabin crew member—were made in connection with the incident.
Detectives from the Major Incident Team are investigating the circumstances on the flight. Mr Kerr was not under arrest, and no arrests have been made.
Jet2 statement
A Jet2 spokesperson said: "We are aware that a customer has sadly passed away, having been taken to hospital earlier this week. We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the customer’s friends and family. As investigations are ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment at this time."
The IOPC stated its investigation would "look at the actions and decision-making of the officers involved to understand the events surrounding the man's death."
