Police watchdog launches probe into death of ‘disruptive’ Jet 2 passenger who officers
The death of a father-of-three on a Jet2 flight from Cyprus to Manchester will be investigated by the police watchdog after it emerged he was handcuffed moments before becoming unresponsive and later dying in hospital.
Bareknuckle boxer Callum Kerr, 35, became increasingly disruptive on a five-hour flight from Larnaca to Manchester Airport on Sunday.
Greater Manchester Police said Mr Kerr assaulted another passenger and a member of cabin crew before being restrained at the rear of the plane.
Photos shared online show five police officers boarding the plane after it landed at Manchester Airport at 2.25am on Monday.
It later emerged Mr Kerr was handcuffed by one of the officers moments before he became unresponsive and required CPR.
He was rushed by paramedics to hospital where he died on Wednesday afternoon.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) on Thursday announced it had launched an investigation into the actions and decision-making of the officers involved to understand the events surrounding Mr Kerr’s death.
IOPC Director of Engagement Amanda Rowe assured the public the investigation would be thorough and independent of police.
Father and bareknuckle boxer Callum Kerr has died after being restrained by passengers on a Jet2 flight to Manchester Airport on Monday
Police handcuffed Mr Kerr before realising he had become unresponsive and required CPR
Photos shared online show police rushing to the back of the plane just moments after it landed at Manchester Airport at 2.25am on Monday
‘This will focus on the actions of police, while a separate GMP investigation is considering the actions of the members of the public involved,’ she said.
‘We have been in contact with Mr Kerr’s family to make them aware of our role and will keep them, and GMP, updated as our investigation progresses.’
The IOPC has begun gathering evidence, including body-worn footage and initial statements from attending officers.
A spokesperson said: ‘Based on our initial review of the footage available, we have confirmed the officers are being treated as witnesses to the investigation, rather than being investigated for their conduct.
‘At this stage, we have established Mr Kerr, 35, was being restrained by members of the public on board the flight from Cyprus when five police officers boarded the plane at Manchester Airport in the early hours of Monday.
‘On arrival, one of the officers applied handcuffs and began carrying out checks. It quickly became apparent he was unresponsive and a minute later officers began CPR.
‘Paramedics were called and the man was taken to hospital where he died on Tuesday 23 June.’
Greater Manchester Police will assist the investigation, with its Major Incident Team examining events on the plane before officers arrived.
Officers began performing CPR on Mr Kerr and later called for a defibrillator
A spokesperson said: ‘Officers boarded the aircraft on its arrival and located the man, who was being restrained by passengers and aircrew at the rear of the plane.
‘Officers used handcuffs to detain him and quickly identified he was unresponsive, through the provision of first aid, and began with CPR. The man was taken by paramedics to hospital where he sadly died on the afternoon of 23 June 2026.’
Police said a mandatory referral to the IOPC was made because officers had come into contact with Mr Kerr prior to his death, not due to any indication of misconduct.
Chief Superintendent Mike Allen said his thoughts were with Mr Kerr’s family and all those impacted by the incident.
‘We will fully assist with their investigation into the actions of the police, where our officers have been independently declared as witnesses rather than being investigated for their conduct,’ he said in a statement.
‘Policing is a challenging profession, and we are supporting them through this process. Support continues to be provided to the man’s family and loved ones during this time.’
Mr Kerr’s loved ones said the boxing enthusiast had ‘a heart of gold’.
‘Callum was a family man, father to three beautiful young children, a lover of sport and with a heart of gold!’ they said in a statement.
A Jet2 passenger who wished to remain anonymous was sitting with his partner and daughter when the incident unfolded.
‘There was a lot of panic, you don’t know what people might attempt to do on an airplane,’ he said.
‘By the time we were flying over Germany, some guy locked eyes with him, and the man walking up and down the aisle headbutted him.
‘He got restrained, and the air hostess was panicking. She asked if any big lads could help, as they couldn’t keep him down.
‘Around three or four passengers were pinning him down.
‘We landed at Manchester, it went silent, he had been shouting for the whole flight, and then he was silent.’
Passengers were asked to remain on the plane for at least an hour after landing and to provide statements to police.
A Jet2 spokesperson previously said: ‘We can confirm that flight LS966 from Larnaca to Manchester requested a priority landing (Monday 22nd June), due to a disruptive passenger incident.
‘We can confirm that a passenger has been taken to hospital. As an investigation is underway, it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment at this time.’