A 'disruptive' plane passenger became critically ill after being restrained by 'big lads' onboard a Jet2 flight from Cyprus to Manchester. 

The man in his 30s had allegedly drunk heavily before boarding the five-hour flight from Larnaca with his girlfriend on Sunday. 

Passengers claim the man had been arguing with his girlfriend before cabin crew moved her to another seat.

They said the man became increasingly disruptive, pacing the aisle, banging on overhead lockers and shouting at other passengers.

A traveller who wished to remain anonymous said the man 'locked eyes' with another male passenger and then 'headbutted him'. 

'By the time we were flying over Germany, some guy locked eyes with him, and the man walking up and down the aisle headbutted him,' he said. 

'He got restrained, and the air hostess was panicking. She asked if any big lads could help, as they couldn't keep him down. 

'Around three or four passengers were pinning him down. 

'We landed at Manchester, it went silent, he had been shouting for the whole flight, and then he was silent.'

He said police officers 'ran to the back of the plane' moments after landing at 2.25am on Monday. 

They immediately performed CPR on the man and later called for a defibrillator.  

'When we touched down, the police came onto the flight, they ran to the back of the plane, shut the curtain, and we could see them doing CPR,' he said. 

'One of the police officers rushed through with a defib, and another officer ran through with a medical bag.

'They wouldn't let anyone off the plane for a good hour, until they rushed us all onto coaches into a deserted room and wouldn't let us leave without giving a statement.'

The witness, who was travelling with his partner and daughter, said there was 'panic and confusion' throughout the flight. 

'There was a lot of panic, you don't know what people might attempt to do on an airplane,' he said. 

'My daughter was with us; she was getting panicked and upset by it all. 

'There were a few panicked children on the plane, too, and the air hostesses were crying.'

Passengers said they remained on the plane for at least an hour and were only allowed to leave the airport once they had given statements to police. 

Greater Manchester Police confirmed the man was taken to hospital after becoming 'critically ill'.

A spokesperson said: 'An investigation is underway after a man became critically ill following reports that the same individual had been aggressive and disruptive towards a passenger and crew members on a flight heading into Manchester Airport.

'At around 2.25am we were called to reports of an assault that had taken place on a flight from Larnaca, Cyprus.

'Officers attended and located a man who had been restrained. The man - in his 30s - was taken to hospital due to his condition.

'He remains in a hospital in a stable but critical condition. Enquiries are ongoing.'

A Jet2 spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that flight LS966 from Larnaca to Manchester requested a priority landing (Monday 22nd June), due to a disruptive passenger incident.

'We can confirm that a passenger has been taken to hospital. As an investigation is underway, it would be inappropriate for us to make any further comment at this time.'