Passengers saved from Jet2 flight diversion due to ‘hero’ boy, 8, and his dad
James Rose, 42, and his eight-year-old son Phoenix stepped in to calm an allegedly disruptive passenger on a Jet2 flight from Izmir, preventing the Manchester-bound plane from being diverted
Phoenix stepped in to calm an allegedly disruptive passenger (Image: Manchester Evening News)
A dad who helped prevent a UK-bound Jet2 flight from being diverted after calming a disruptive passenger maintains his eight-year-old son is the ‘real hero’.
James Rose, 42, and his lad Phoenix from Salford, Manchester stepped in to cal, a troublesome traveller on a plane from Izmir, Turkey, last Friday (April 24). Passenger John Henderson, 47, previously told the Manchester Evening News the flight was scheduled to depart at 8pm, but left 50 minutes behind schedule after roughly 20 passengers were moved from another cancelled service.
Mr Henderson said the trouble started about 30 minutes into the flight, just after the initial drinks round. He said a woman was consuming her own alcohol, which was seized, reports the Manchester Evening News.
“She then just erupted, calling them names, being violent towards them,” he said. Flight attendants warned the woman the aircraft would be rerouted if she didn’t settle down.
Another passenger, now revealed as Mr Rose, asked whether he could step in and have a word with the woman. The troublesome traveller was relocated to sit next to him. Mr Rose remained with the woman and kept her settled, Mr Henderson said.
“He listened to her, he talked to her, he was completely in control of the whole situation,” he said. “The stewardesses couldn’t thank him enough.
” They kept on saying ‘you don’t know how much money you’ve saved Jet2 here’.”
Mr Henderson described the man’s son, now known as young Phoenix, as an ‘absolute superstar’, engaging in conversation with the woman and assisting his father. “He was getting out football cards, constantly in conversation with her,” he added.
After the Manchester Evening News reported the story, Mr Rose responded. He expressed surprise at the reaction but insisted that all credit should go to his son. They were returning home after cutting their holiday short due to a family emergency.
“I’m not the hero,” Mr Rose stated. “It was me lad. The way he managed the situation, he calmed her down. She was swearing and calling them every name under the sun.”
“One of the stewardesses said ‘that’s it, we’re gonna call the pilot and get this plane diverted’. I said ‘can you give me 30 seconds’. I asked if we could get her sat next to me.
“We put her in the middle between me and my lad and that’s when my lad took over. He was absolutely fantastic, he took over. He was saying to her ‘don’t shout, don’t swear… what do your kids do?’.”
“My lad stuck to her like glue,” James said. “Every time she tried to go off he would tap her and say ‘come on, talk to me’. It was just magnificent to see.”
Mr Rose added: “As soon as that plane touched down, relief kicked in. We got in a taxi and went home and never thought nothing of it. When I’ve seen the comments, I was shocked with the response. People are saying really nice things.”
Phoenix, his father shared, is simply hoping the woman is alright. “He’s been asking how the lady is,” Mr Rose revealed. “He’s very thoughtful and said ‘I hope she gets the help and care she needs’.”
“Even last night when I was going to bed I had a tear in my eye because I don’t actually think I would’ve been able to do it myself. I think the overriding factor was Phoenix. If anyone is a hero, it’s him.”
Reflecting on the incident, Mr Rose stated: “My mum always taught me that you help people and it’s nice to be nice. If we could help one person, fantastic.”
Greater Manchester Police confirmed officers were called to the scene, but no crimes were reported.
