Police investigating death of man on Jet2 flight from Larnaca to Manchester

Officers looking into reports the man had been ‘aggressive and disruptive’ and that passengers had restrained him

A police investigation has been launched after a man on a Jet2 flight died after reportedly being restrained by passengers.

A spokesperson for Greater Manchester police confirmed the death of the man, who was in his 30s.

The flight took off from Larnaca in Cyprus late last Sunday and landed at Manchester in the early hours of Monday. Police said they were looking into reports that the man had been “aggressive and disruptive” during the flight, and that the pilot had requested a priority landing.

A GMP spokesperson said officers found the man seriously unwell when they arrived on the plane after it landed. Because the man died after contact with the officers, the case has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, the policing watchdog.

If it is assessed as being a death following police contact, the IOPC will independently investigate it.

In a statement issued before news of the man’s death, a GMP spokesperson said: “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.

“At around 2.25am we were called to reports of an assault that had taken place on a flight from Larnaca, Cyprus. Officers attended and located a man who had been restrained. The man – in his 30s – was taken to hospital due to his condition.”

A police spokesperson said officers who boarded the plane administered CPR before removing the man from the plane. He was taken to hospital where he later died.

Jet2 declined comment after news of the man’s death. In an earlier statement to the Manchester Evening news, the company said: “We can confirm that flight LS966 from Larnaca to Manchester requested a priority landing … due to a disruptive passenger incident.

“We can confirm that a passenger has been taken to hospital.”