Holiday Briton dies in ‘fall from plane’
A BRITISH holidaymaker has died at a Turkish airport amid reports that he fell to the runway while being removed from an aircraft.
Andrew Westlake was returning from a holiday with his girlfriend and baby daughter when the tragedy happened, early on Tuesday morning.
Turkish media said the 30-year-old, from Annfield Plain, Co Durham, was ejected from a Jet2 flight at Dalaman Airport after a row with cabin crew.
But yesterday his family said they are in the dark over events leading to his death. And Jet2 bosses deny Mr Westlake was injured in or near their aircraft.
Mr Westlake is thought to have been waiting at the airport for three days after losing his ticket.
He is said to have been taken to a nearby hospital where he was found to have broken ribs. He died a short time later and police are investigating, it was reported. But the family have been given conflicting reports from authorities in Turkey – including that he could have fallen from a building.
His aunt, Pauline Butler, 67, said Mr Westlake’s four siblings and mother June, 54, were heartbroken. “He doted on his daughter,” she added. “It was their first family holiday together.” Her husband, Keith, 67, a retired police officer, said: “Things just don’t add up. We can’t find out anything. We just want to hear from anyone who was on that flight.”
Jet2 said: “We understand that a customer sadly passed away on Tuesday morning at Dalaman Airport. Contrary to some reports, we can confirm that the customer was not injured on our aircraft or in the vicinity of our aircraft.”