‘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’

18:44, 29 Apr 2026Updated 18:56, 29 Apr 2026

Pheonix Rose(Image: Manchester Evening News)

A Salford dad who helped stop a Manchester-bound Jet2 flight from being diverted as he calmed a disruptive passenger insists his eight-year-old boy is the ‘real hero’.

James Rose, 42, and his son Phoenix were the mystery father and son who stepped in to placate a rowdy traveller on a plane from Izmir, Turkey, last Friday (April 24).

Passenger John Henderson, 47, earlier told the Manchester Evening News the flight was due to depart at 8pm, but took off 50 minutes late after around 20 passengers were transferred from another, cancelled, service.

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Mr Henderson said the disruption began around 30 minutes into the flight, shortly after the first drinks service. A woman, he said, was drinking her own alcohol, which was confiscated.

‘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 intervene and speak to the woman. The disruptive passenger was moved to sit beside him. Mr Rose stayed with the woman and kept her calm, Mr Henderson said.

Phoenix Rose(Image: Manchester Evening News)

“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’, talking to the woman and helping his dad. “He was getting out football cards, constantly in conversation with her,” he added.

After the Manchester Evening News published the story, Mr Rose got in touch. He said he was taken aback by the response, but said the credit must all go to his son. He and Phoenix were flying home after cutting their holiday following 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 said officers attended, but no crimes were reported.