James Rose and his son Phoenix were praised by fellow passengers after stepping in to placate a rowdy woman on a Jet2 flight
A dad who prevented a Manchester-bound Jet2 flight from being diverted by calming a disruptive passenger maintains his eight year old son is the ‘real hero’.
James Rose, 42, and his son Phoenix were the dad and son who intervened to pacify a rowdy traveller on a plane from Izmir, Turkey, last Friday, April 24. Passenger John Henderson, 47, previously told the flight was scheduled to depart at 8pm, but left 50 minutes behind schedule after approximately 20 passengers were transferred from another cancelled service.
John said the trouble started roughly 30 minutes into the flight, shortly after the initial drinks service. A woman, he said, was consuming her own alcohol, which was confiscated, reports the Manchester Evening News.
He said: “She then just erupted, calling them names, being violent towards them.” John said cabin crew warned the woman the aircraft would be diverted if she didn’t calm down.
Another man, now identified as James asked if he could intervene and speak to the woman. The disruptive passenger was moved to sit beside him. James, from Salford, remained with the woman and kept her calm.
John said: “He listened to her, he talked to her, he was completely in control of the whole situation. The stewardesses couldn’t thank him enough. They kept on saying ‘you don’t know how much money you’ve saved Jet2 here’.”
John described the man’s son, now named as Phoenix, as an ‘absolute superstar’, praising him for engaging with the woman and supporting his dad. He continued: “He was getting out football cards, constantly in conversation with her.”
James admitted he was surprised by the reaction to the story after news of his actions were shared, but insisted all the praise should be directed at his son. He and Phoenix had been travelling home after cutting short their holiday due to a family emergency.
James said: “I’m not the hero. It was me lad. The way he handled 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.”
He continued: “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, according to his dad, is simply concerned about the woman’s wellbeing.
James said: “He’s been asking how the lady is. 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.”
Looking back on what happened, James said: “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 said officers attended, but no crimes were reported.
