Jet2 passenger 'violent' on flight calmed down by boy, 8, as plane narrowly avoids diversion

A dad who prevented a Manchester -bound Jet2 flight from being diverted by calming down a disruptive passenger says his eight-year-old son is the 'real hero'. James Rose, 42, of Salford, and his lad Phoenix intervened to pacify a troublesome traveller on a plane from Izmir, Turkey , last Friday. Passenger John Henderson, 47, previously told the Manchester Evening News the flight was scheduled to depart at 8pm, but lifted off 50 minutes behind schedule after roughly 20 passengers were transferred from another, cancelled, service. Mr Henderson said the trouble kicked off around 30 minutes into the flight, just after the initial drinks service. A woman, he said, was consuming her own alcohol, which was seized. 'She then just erupted, calling them names, being violent towards them," he said. Cabin crew, Mr Henderson said, warned the woman the aircraft would be diverted if she didn't calm down. Another man, now identified as Mr Rose, asked if he could step in and talk to the woman. The disruptive passenger was relocated to sit next to him. Mr Rose remained with the woman and kept her composed, 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 said the man's son, now identified as young Phoenix, was an 'absolute superstar', chatting to the woman and assisting his dad. "He was getting out football cards, constantly in conversation with her," he told the Manchester Evening News . Mr Rose said he was astonished by the reaction to the story, but insisted the praise must go entirely to his son. He and Phoenix were travelling home after abandoning their holiday due to a family emergency. "I'm not the hero," Mr Rose said. "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." 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 dad said, just hopes the woman is okay. "He's been asking how the lady is," Mr Rose said. "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 experience, Mr Rose 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 confirmed officers attended the scene, though no crimes were reported.