Jet2 has released a statement following the death of bare-knuckle boxer Callum Kerr, who was restrained by passengers and police on a flight from Larnaca, Cyprus, to Manchester, England, on June 21. The 35-year-old father-of-three died in hospital on June 23.
Incident Details
Witnesses reported that Kerr became disruptive during the flight after reportedly consuming alcohol before boarding. Police were called to Manchester Airport at 2:25 am on June 22 after reports of a man behaving aggressively toward passengers and crew. Officers found Kerr being restrained by passengers and aircrew at the rear of the plane, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Police used handcuffs to detain Kerr but quickly identified he was unresponsive and began CPR. He was taken to hospital, where he died the following afternoon.
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."
Family and Police Response
Kerr’s family described him as "a family man, father to three beautiful young children, a lover of sport and with a heart of gold." Greater Manchester Police (GMP) has made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is investigating the actions of officers involved. Two reports of assault—one on a passenger and one on a crew member—have been made. Kerr was not under arrest, and no arrests have been made.
Detectives from GMP’s Major Incident Team are also investigating the circumstances on the flight. The IOPC said its investigation will "look at the actions and decision-making of the officers involved to understand the events surrounding the man's death."
