Man Removed from Flight in Turkey Later Found Deceased

An inquest opening has revealed that a man, removed from an aircraft following a dispute with his partner, was subsequently discovered deceased. Ben Crook had journeyed to Antalya, Turkey, accompanied by his partner and her two children, to commemorate his 32nd birthday on 23 September. During proceedings on Thursday, Gwent Coroner’s Court was informed that he had consumed alcohol en route from his residence in Abertridwr, Caerphilly county, to Bristol Airport, and continued drinking both at the airport and during the flight. A disagreement with his partner resulted in his removal from the aircraft upon its arrival in Turkey; he was last observed in Kaleiçi, Antalya’s old town district, prior to his disappearance. The initial inquest hearing disclosed that he had broken both his and his partner’s mobile phones, thereby preventing any means of contact. The next day, a body was located in the Selçuk area, situated 2km (1.2 miles) from the family’s accommodation. Area Coroner Rose Farmer stated that a post-mortem examination was conducted in Antalya, though she had not yet received its findings. It was conveyed at the hearing that Mr Crook’s father was notified of the body’s discovery on 4 October and subsequently traveled to identify his son. He received information that the discovery occurred at 18:20 on 24 September, on stony ground located at the base of a drop. Mr Crook’s remains were then transported back to Wales, where a second post-mortem examination was performed. The precise cause of death remained undetermined, but Ms Farmer indicated that it seemed Mr Crook had “fallen from a height and died from injuries sustained, it’s believed, as a result of a fall”. The proceedings were adjourned, with a full inquest scheduled for 17 April next year.