Brit dad dies in Turkey after being escorted off aircraft and getting separated from household
Ben Crook, 32, was reported missing after the plane he was on with his partner Jess Jenkins and their two children landed in Turkey, and he was escorted off the flight
A dad died after plummeting from a height in Turkey, after being kicked off a plane and separated from his family. The news of his death only came to light when his father made the journey to the country to investigate why he hadn’t returned home.
Ben Crook, 32 was reported missing after jetting off to Antalya with his partner Jess Jenkins and their two children last year. An inquest heard that he had consumed alcohol and cocaine, leading to erratic behaviour on the flight, including shouting at a flight attendant and smashing both his and Ms Jenkins’ mobiles.
Upon landing in Turkey, Mr Crook, from Abertridwr, Caerphilly, was escorted off the plane and separated from Ms Jenkins. She was instructed to exit the airport and took a taxi to their hotel with the children.
The inquest held at Gwent Coroner’s Court on Tuesday revealed that Mr Crook never made it to the hotel and didn’t show up for the return flight home a week later, reports Wales Online.
Following his mysterious absence, Mr Crook’s father travelled to Turkey, where he discovered the heartbreaking news that his son had died after falling from a height and sustaining fatal injuries.
A post-mortem examination conducted at the Antalya Forensic Institute found that Mr Crook had external injuries and lacerations consistent with a fall. He passed away at Antalya Training and Research Hospital at 2.15am on September 25.
Following the return of his body to the UK, a further post-mortem examination was conducted on Mr Crook at Grange University Hospital by Dr Majid Rashid.
The results revealed severe head injuries, upper limb bruising, lacerations, and numerous abdominal wall abrasions. A chest incision suggested the insertion of a chest tube to drain fluid.
Furthermore, the examination showed a fractured skull vault, brain damage and bleeding, as well as a fractured pelvis on both sides.
A toxicology report found cocaine, alcohol, ketamine, and cocaethylene in Mr Crook’s system, with the ketamine likely administered during medical treatment.
Dr Rashid determined the cause of death to be a fractured skull and pelvis resulting from blunt trauma due to a fall.
A statement from Ms Jenkins, read in court by Senior Coroner Caroline Saunders, revealed that Mr Crook had started drinking before arriving at the airport and purchased duty-free alcohol to consume at their hotel. Due to a flight delay, the couple began drinking the duty-free alcohol, with Ms Jenkins describing her partner as a “nervous flier” but mentioning they were “chatting and joking” prior to takeoff.
During the flight, she noted a shift in Mr Crook’s demeanour as he started yelling at a male flight attendant, demanding booze. He went on to smash both his and Ms Jenkins’ mobiles, leading to him being escorted off the plane and separated from his partner.
Ms Jenkins opened up about Mr Crook’s substance abuse, revealing that her partner indulged in cocaine for leisure, but only when under the influence of alcohol.
Amy, Mr Crook’s sister, shared that her brother had struggled with drugs and alcohol, with his intake escalating in the months leading up to his untimely demise.
She also mentioned her brother’s mental health battles, exacerbated by his substance abuse. However, Amy stated there were no signs indicating he would take his own life, leaving his two children fatherless.
Upon returning from Turkey, Mr Crook’s father discovered a message in his Facebook Messenger spam folder, seemingly from his son, seeking the name of the hotel where his partner was staying. Another message followed, again requesting contact.
Several unidentified individuals in Turkey, who claimed to have seen Mr Crook before his death, reached out to his family members.
A woman reached out to Ms Jenkins, sharing a startling encounter: “Hello, we have just seen your post about Ben being missing. We saw him on September 24 at lunchtime. He approached me and my husband for help while walking near Kaleici Harbour. He said he smashed up his phone and had brought a new one but it was not ringing for some reason. He used my phone to send a message to his friend and we gave him our number if he needed more help. He looked shaken and hungover. After the Facebook message and ringing his friend, he crossed the harbour and walked, we presumed, to the police station for help.”
In a tragic turn, Mr Crook’s loved ones were later sent messages and photos showing what seemed to be him lying motionless on rocks beneath a high structure.
Others suggested Mr Crook had fallen at around 6.20pm on September 24, while he was smoking. There was no suggestion of third party involvement.
Coroner Ms Saunders delivered her verdict, stating: “(Alcohol and drugs) may have caused disorientation and poor judgement but this is insufficient to determine he fell as a result of the drugs he had taken.”
She concluded that the fall was accidental, with the precise circumstances remaining a mystery: “I find the fall was an accident, the exact details of which are unknown..”
She detailed the sad events: “On September 24, 2024, Ben Crook fell from height whilst on holiday in Turkey and sustained severe head and pelvic injuries and died on September 25, 2024. The conclusion I reach is that of an accident.”
Ms Saunders extended her heartfelt sympathies to Mr Crook’s family.
