Dad Dies After Being Restrained on Jet2 Flight to Manchester
Callum Kerr boarded a Jet2 flight in Larnaca with his girlfriend on June 21. He never made it home from Manchester Airport.
The Warrington father and bareknuckle boxer died after being found unresponsive by police officers who boarded the aircraft in the early hours of June 22 — following what passengers and crew described as a disruptive episode during the flight.
What Happened on the Flight
Witnesses reported that Kerr, who was in his 30s, became disruptive during the journey after allegedly consuming a significant amount of alcohol before boarding.
Greater Manchester Police said they were called at around 2:25 a.m. to reports of an alleged assault on a flight arriving from Larnaca, Cyprus. Officers attended and found that Kerr had been restrained by fellow passengers.
Video footage shared online showed police boarding the aircraft. Officers then discovered Kerr was not breathing.
They immediately began performing CPR and called for a defibrillator. Kerr was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
His family confirmed to the Manchester Evening News that he has since died. He is survived by a child and his partner.
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The Assault Investigation — and the Legal Question It Raises
The GMP statement is precise in its wording — and that precision matters.
"An investigation is underway after a man became critically ill following reports that the same individual had been aggressive and disruptive towards a passenger and crew members on a flight heading into Manchester Airport," a GMP spokesperson confirmed, as reported by the Manchester Evening News.
The investigation is framed around an alleged assault. That means GMP is not simply examining the circumstances of Kerr's death — it is also examining whether those who restrained him may have committed an offence under UK law.
This is not a straightforward area of British aviation law. Passengers on a commercial flight have no specific statutory authority to physically restrain a fellow traveller. The right to do so — under the principle of reasonable force to prevent harm to others — exists in common law, but its application depends on what force was used, when, and for how long.
Airline crews regularly request passenger assistance when dealing with disruptive individuals, which places those who help in a position where their actions may later be scrutinised. Whether the restraint applied to Kerr was reasonable and proportionate, and whether it contributed to the circumstances of his death, are questions the investigation will have to answer.
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Tributes From Warrington
Callum Kerr was known in the Warrington community as a father and bareknuckle boxing competitor. Tributes posted to social media following the news of his death reflect the shock felt by those who knew him.
"Can't believe I'm writing this RIP Callum Kerr," one person posted. Another wrote: "God bless mate we'll catch up again." A third said: "I thought I was dreaming when I seen someone write it last night. Goodnight, God bless Cal."
His family has not issued a formal statement at this time.
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What Happens Next
GMP's investigation remains active. No arrests have been announced. No cause of death has been officially confirmed, and no coroner's inquest date has been set.
The investigation will need to establish the precise sequence of events on board — what triggered the restraint, how it was applied, and what, if any, relationship exists between the restraint and Kerr's loss of consciousness.
Jet2 has not issued a public statement on the incident. The airline had not responded to media requests for comment at the time of this article's publication.
Until the investigation concludes and a coroner rules on the cause of death, the circumstances of Callum Kerr's death on the flight from Larnaca remain officially unresolved.
Key Takeaways
- Callum Kerr, a father and bareknuckle boxer from Warrington, died after being found unresponsive on a Jet2 flight from Larnaca, Cyprus that landed at Manchester Airport at approximately 2:25 a.m. on June 22, 2026.
- Witnesses reported Kerr had become disruptive during the flight; fellow passengers restrained him before the aircraft landed.
- Greater Manchester Police launched an assault investigation — examining not only the circumstances of Kerr's death but whether the restraint applied by passengers constitutes an offence under UK law.
- Officers performed CPR and used a defibrillator at the scene before Kerr was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
- No arrests have been made. No cause of death has been officially confirmed. A coroner's inquest has not yet been opened.
- Jet2 has not issued a public statement on the incident.
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Politics & World News Editor
James Mitchell has covered US and UK politics for over a decade, with a focus on elections, foreign policy, and Capitol Hill. He breaks down complex political stories into clear, fast analysis.
