Jet2 has issued a statement following the death of bare-knuckle boxer Callum Kerr, who died after being restrained by passengers and police on a flight from Cyprus to Manchester. The 35-year-old father-of-three was on board the Jet2 flight from Larnaca to Manchester on June 21 when he became disruptive, reportedly after drinking alcohol beforehand.
Incident Details
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. Officers boarded the aircraft to find Mr Kerr being restrained by passengers and aircrew at the rear of the plane, according to the Manchester Evening News. Police used handcuffs to detain him but quickly identified he was unresponsive through the provision of first aid. CPR was commenced, and he was taken to hospital, where he died on Tuesday afternoon, June 23.
Jet2's Response
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 Statement
In a statement issued through police, Mr Kerr's family said: "Callum was a family man, father to three beautiful young children, a lover of sport and with a heart of gold." Mr Kerr, from Warrington, was formally identified after his death.
Investigations Underway
Greater Manchester Police has made a mandatory referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is investigating the actions of the officers involved. The force said two reports of assault—on a passenger and a member of cabin crew—were made. Detectives from GMP's Major Incident Team are also investigating the circumstances on the flight. Mr Kerr was not under arrest, and no arrests have been made. The IOPC said its investigation would look at the actions and decision-making of the officers to understand the events surrounding the man's death.
