Flight Restraint Death
Father Dies After Being Restrained by Fellow Passengers on Jet2 Flight to Manchester
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Callum Kerr, a father and bare-knuckle boxer from Warrington, died in hospital after being physically restrained by fellow passengers on a Jet2 flight from Larnaca, Cyprus, to Manchester on June 21. Police boarded the plane at 2:25 AM and found Kerr not breathing. Officers performed CPR and used a defibrillator before rushing him to hospital, where he died days later, Manchester Evening News reported.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed an investigation is underway. Jet2 said the flight "requested a priority landing due to a disruptive passenger incident" and declined to comment further while the probe continues, according to Express.
How a Flight Descended Into Chaos and Restraint
Witnesses say Kerr consumed a large amount of alcohol before and during the flight. He allegedly began arguing with his girlfriend, and crew moved her to another part of the plane for her safety. His behavior then escalated. He allegedly headbutted another traveler and threatened others, Birmingham Live reported.
A cabin crew member, described as panicking, asked "big lads" on board to help. Three to four passengers answered the call. They restrained Kerr using seatbelts and physical force for the rest of the flight — roughly 70 minutes. Witness Graeme Brown described the scene as one of "panic and confusion," with air hostesses in tears.
Medical Experts Point to Restraint-Related Asphyxia Risk
Doctors and medical researchers have flagged a risk called positional asphyxia. This happens when a restrained person, especially one who is intoxicated, cannot breathe properly due to their body position. The British Medical Journal has documented deaths in similar cases involving alcohol, physical exertion, and improvised restraints like seatbelts.
Kerr stood 6 feet tall and competed in the Welterweight and Light Heavyweight divisions of bare-knuckle fighting. His physical size is likely why multiple passengers were needed to hold him down. The investigation will examine whether the force used was proportionate, Cornwall Live reported.
Jet2 and Police Face Questions Over Alcohol and Protocol
Critics are asking why Kerr was allowed to board in what witnesses described as a heavily intoxicated state. Legal analysts say the case could trigger a "duty of care" inquiry into Jet2's alcohol-serving policy and its procedures for managing violent passengers mid-flight. Under UK law, being disruptive on an aircraft is a criminal offense.
Under the Tokyo Convention, airline crews can ask passengers to help restrain someone — and those helpers receive some legal protection. But with Kerr's death, investigators must determine if the hour-long restraint crossed a legal line. GMP said the investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been announced.
Air Rage Crisis Prompts Calls for National Passenger Blacklist
This death lands amid a sharp rise in flight disruptions. UK Civil Aviation Authority data shows serious disruptive incidents jumped 300% since 2019, climbing from 390 to 1,245 cases per year by 2023. Over 180 passengers were held on the tarmac at Manchester for more than an hour to give police statements.
The incident has pushed calls for a national disruptive passenger database — sometimes called a "Pubwatch for the Skies." Under the proposed system, a ban by one UK airline would apply to all carriers. The UK Department for Transport is reportedly in active talks with airlines about the plan, Cornwall Live reported.
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