An inquest reveals that the cause of death of a father-of-three who passed away following a mid-air “altercation” on a Jet2 flight remains uncertain. Callum Kerr, 35, encountered the incident while traveling from Larnaca, Cyprus, to Manchester on June 22. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) reported that he was subdued after allegedly assaulting a fellow passenger and a cabin crew member.
During the flight, Mr. Kerr, accompanied by his partner, was consuming alcohol, as disclosed by coroner Zak Golombeck. The cabin crew had refused to serve him more drinks prior to the incident. Subsequently, an altercation with another passenger or passengers occurred, leading to Mr. Kerr defying instructions to return to his seat as the plane was nearing Manchester.
The coroner stated that Mr. Kerr, a former bareknuckle boxer and cage fighter, was restrained on the floor by passengers and a crew member until GMP officers boarded the aircraft upon landing. Despite efforts to revive him, Mr. Kerr was unresponsive and later pronounced dead at Wythenshawe Hospital on June 23.
Investigations by the police, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), and Jet2 are ongoing. The coroner awaits the final cause of death to proceed with the inquiry, with a subsequent hearing scheduled for February 8 the following year. Mr. Kerr’s parents participated in the hearing and received condolences from the coroner.
Described as a family man with a passion for sports, Mr. Kerr leaves behind three young children. Police had responded to reports of his aggressive behavior towards passengers and crew, leading to physical altercations. Both GMP and the IOPC are actively looking into the circumstances surrounding Mr. Kerr’s tragic demise. Jet2 expressed condolences to the bereaved family and refrained from further comments during the ongoing investigations.
