An eight-year-old boy and his father have been congratulated by Jet2 for their “kindness and care” after they helped to calm down a disruptive passenger on a flight to Manchester.
James and his eight-year-old son Phoenix were returning from a holiday in Izmir, Turkey, when a female passenger started “screaming, shouting and swearing” on 24 April.
The father told BBC Radio Manchester that the unruly passenger was “almost trying to smack the stewardesses” during the aircraft’s drink service.
As a Jet2 staff member went to call for a flight diversion, James requested that the woman be moved next to him and his son.
Phoenix then “bounced into action”, showing his football cards, singing Dance Monkey and asking about her family.
Eventually, James noticed that “the tone in her voice was coming down” as they continued the final three-and-a-half hours of the journey.
Flight staff had been authorised to divert the plane due to the woman’s behaviour before James intervened.
He said: “I’m sort of sat there in the end, and I’m thinking to myself, thank god that Phoenix is with me because if he wasn’t, I don’t think I would have been able to handle it.”
The woman was taken into police custody on landing in Manchester, reported BBC News.
James and Phoenix were thanked by the pilot with a handshake for preventing an expensive diversion for the airline as they disembarked.
The airline has also given the father and son with a pair of free flight vouchers following the incident.
A spokesman for Jet2 said: “The vast majority of customers have a brilliant experience when they fly with us; however, our highly-trained crew are always there to look after everyone, as well as provide our friendly in-flight service.
“We have heard about how James and Phoenix reassured a fellow customer, and we would like to congratulate and thank them for their kindness and care. We are arranging for a goodie pack to be sent to them, alongside a voucher for a pair of free flights, in recognition of what they did.”
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