Police watchdog launches probe into death of ‘disruptive’ Jet 2 passenger who officers handcuffed on board after he was restrained by aircrew and fellow flyers
The death of a father-of-three on a Jet2 flight from Cyprus to Manchester will be investigated by a police monitor, after it was revealed he was handcuffed before becoming unresponsive and later dying in hospital.
Bareknuckle boxer Callum Kerr, 35, became increasingly disruptive during his five-hour flight from Larnaca to Manchester Airport on Sunday.
Police said Mr Kerr attacked another passenger and a cabin crew member before he was restrained in the rear of the plane.
In photos shared online, five police officers can be seen boarding the plane after it landed at Manchester Airport at around 2.25am on Monday morning.
It emerged that Mr Kerr had been handcuffed by one of the officers moments before he became unresponsive and required CPR.
The man, who was taken to hospital by paramedics, died on Wednesday afternoon.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) announced on Thursday that 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 Engagement Director Amanda Rowe assured the public that the investigation would be thorough and independent of the police.
Dad and knuckle boxer Callum Kerr died after being restrained by passengers on a Jet2 flight to Manchester Airport on Monday.
Police handcuffed Mr Kerr before realizing he had become unresponsive and required CPR.
Photos shared online show police rushing to the back of the plane just after it touched down at Manchester Airport at around 2.25am on Monday morning.
‘This will focus on the actions of the police, while a separate GMP investigation will consider the actions of members of the public involved,’ he said.
‘We are in contact with Mr Kerr’s family to inform them of our role and will keep them and GMP updated as our investigation progresses.’
The IOPC began gathering available evidence, including body-worn footage of the incident and initial statements from the officers involved.
A spokesman said: ‘Based on our initial review of the available footage, we have confirmed that the officers were treated as witnesses to the investigation rather than being investigated for their conduct.
‘At this stage we have established that Mr Kerr, 35, was restrained by members of the public on a flight from Cyprus while five police officers boarded the plane at Manchester Airport in the early hours of Monday.
‘On arrival one of the officers put the handcuffs on and began carrying out checks. It quickly became apparent that 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, June 23.’
Greater Manchester Police will assist the IOPC investigation along with the Major Incident Team to investigate the circumstances on the flight before police arrived.
Officers began CPR on Mr Kerr and later called for a defibrillator
A spokesman said: ‘Officers boarded the aircraft immediately upon arrival and located the man, who was restrained by passengers and crew at the rear of the aircraft.
‘Officers used handcuffs to detain him and immediately established that he was unresponsive through the provision of first aid and began CPR. ‘The man was taken to hospital by paramedics where he sadly died on the afternoon of 23 June 2026.’
Police told the IOPC that the mandatory referral was made not because of any signs of abuse but because police had contacted the man before his death.
Chief Inspector Mike Allen said his thoughts were with Mr Kerr’s family and everyone affected by the incident.
‘We will fully assist in investigations into police actions where our officers are independently declared as witnesses rather than being investigated for their conduct,’ he said in a statement.
‘Policing is a challenging profession, and we support them in this process. ‘Support continues to be provided to the man’s family and loved ones during this time.’
Mr Kerr’s relatives said the boxing enthusiast had a ‘heart of gold’.
‘Callum was a family man, father of three beautiful little children, lover of sports and 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 occurred.
‘There was a lot of panic, you don’t know what people will try to do on the plane,’ he said.
‘As he was flying over Germany, a man made eye contact with him and the man walking up and down the corridor headbutted him.
‘It was tied up and the stewardess panicked. He asked if the big men could help since they couldn’t subdue him.
‘About three or four passengers were crowding him.
‘We landed in Manchester and it got quiet, he had been screaming the whole flight and then he stopped.’
Passengers were asked to stay on the plane for at least an hour after landing and to give a statement to the police.
A Jet2 spokesperson previously said: ‘We can confirm that flight LS966 from Larnaca to Manchester has requested priority landing due to a disruptive passenger incident (Monday 22 June).
‘We can confirm that one passenger has been taken to hospital. ‘As the investigation is ongoing it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time.’
