Callum Kerr, from Warrington, was flying from Larnaca, Cyprus, to Manchester with his partner when he was restrained after allegedly assaulting a passenger and a cabin crew member
The cause of death of a father-of-three who died after he was restrained on a Jet2 flight following a mid-air “altercation” remains unclear, an inquest has heard.
Callum Kerr, 35, was on a flight between Cyprus’s capital, Larnaca, and Manchester on June 22 when the incident took place. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said that he was restrained after he allegedly assaulted a passenger and a cabin crew member.
Mr Kerr was travelling with his partner and, according to coroner Zak Golombeck, he “had been drinking alcohol during the flight”. Mr Golombeck told Manchester Coroner’s Court today: “Callum […] had been informed by the cabin crew that they would no longer be willing to serve him additional drinks.”
A “reported altercation between Callum and a passenger or passengers on the flight” then took place, Manchester Evening News reports. “As the plane was preparing to land at Manchester, Callum was asked to re-take his seat and at that stage it is understood he refused to do so,” Mr Golombeck added.
He said Mr Kerr, who was a bareknuckle boxer and cage fighter, was “restrained on the floor by passengers together with a member of the cabin crew”. A call to GMP was made and the plane landed at 2.23am, with four officers boarding the aircraft at 2.41am.
Officers applied handcuffs before they noted Mr Kerr “was unresponsive”, the court heard. The father, from Warrington, was found “restrained in a seated position leaning forward”, the coroner said.
Officers started CPR while North West Ambulance Service was also called to the scene. Medics from NWAS took over at 2.50am and Mr Kerr was taken to Wythenshawe Hospital, where he died the following day, on June 23.
A criminal investigation by the police, a probe by the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and an internal investigation by Jet2 are all ongoing. Mr Golombeck said he was still waiting to hear from GMP on whether “they are going to consult with the Crown Prosecution Service or whether they will pass the file to [him] in order to conclude the inquest”.
While a post-mortem examination has been carried out, the coroner said he is “still awaiting a final cause of death” which will “help determine the next stages”. A further hearing has been scheduled for February 8 next year.
Mr Kerr’s parents Andrea and George Kerr attended the short hearing via videolink. His father said a police family liaison officer was “keeping them informed” after the coroner offered them his “most sincere condolences” and asked if they had any questions.
In a tribute issued last month, Mr Kerr’s loved ones said: “Callum was a family man, father to three beautiful young children, a lover of sport and with a heart of gold.”
Police previously said they were called to reports of “a man behaving aggressively towards passengers and crew” on the flight, “during which another passenger and a member of cabin crew were assaulted by the man”.
The force said it was mandated to refer itself to the IOPC “due to police coming into contact with the man prior to his death, not due to any indication of misconduct by the officers involved”.
GMP bosses said officers from the Major Incident Team were investigating “the circumstances on the flight prior to police arrival”.
The IOPC said it would look into the “actions and decision-making of the officers involved to understand the events surrounding the man’s death”.
Jet2 previously said: “We would like to offer our sincere condolences to the customer’s friends and family. As investigations are ongoing, it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment at this time.”