**Family Holiday Turns to Tragedy as Drunk Passenger Dies After Being Escorted From Flight in Turkey**
A family holiday to Turkey ended in heartbreak for a mother of four from Caerphilly, as her long-term partner died in distressing circumstances shortly after landing in Antalya. Jessica Jenkins, 38, has described the trauma of losing Ben Crook, 32, whose sudden and untimely death has left her and their children devastated.
The couple had been together for nine years and were travelling with two of their young children in September last year when the tragic events unfolded. Ben, who was said to be intoxicated and disruptive during the flight, was escorted from the plane on arrival by Turkish authorities. Jessica and the children were directed through customs and advised to proceed to their accommodation, under the impression that Ben would be escorted to the hotel once the situation was resolved.
However, after several anxious hours with no sign of Ben, Jessica became increasingly concerned and began making inquiries with both the police and their hotel. What followed were days of confusion and desperation, as she searched for her partner whilst caring for their children away from home. Speaking after the inquest at Gwent Coroner’s Court, Jessica revealed she believes Turkish police withheld information about Ben’s death from her for several days, leaving her in a state of anguish and uncertainty.
Recalling the ordeal, Jessica said: “I spent every day at police stations and walking around Antalya trying to find him. I am certain the police knew he was dead but didn’t tell me. I didn’t even know he had been taken to hospital, and still haven’t received any of his belongings.” According to her, misleading information from officials, including claims that Ben was taken to their hotel, prolonged her search and gave false hope to the family.
Eventually, the devastating news arrived: Ben’s body had been discovered some distance from the family’s hotel. The inquest heard that he died from injuries consistent with a fall from a height, leading to a fractured skull, brain injuries, and extensive pelvic damage. Jessica has since expressed disbelief that his death could have been accidental, suggesting that Ben, who was “petrified of dying,” may not have fallen by simple misfortune.
The human cost of Ben’s passing has been profound for Jessica and their blended family. “He was such a loving, caring, and kind person who would do anything for me and the kids,” she reflected. The grief in her words is clear, as she added, “I am traumatised and I don’t think I will ever be able to go on holiday ever again.” She revealed that Ben sent worried messages to both her and his father from a borrowed Turkish phone, but tragically, these messages were not seen until the family had returned home.
Ben played an important role as a father figure, having raised Jessica’s elder children before the couple welcomed their own “miracle” children, Harper, now six, and Jax, five, despite Ben previously being told by doctors that he could not conceive. Photographs of the family show a close, loving bond, especially between Ben and daughter Harper, whose grief remains particularly raw.
In his memory, nine friends and family members have embarked on an ambitious charity walk from Senghenydd to the summit of Snowdon, covering 150 miles in five days, to raise funds for the children Ben has left behind. Organising the event, Jessica’s cousin Owen described Ben as “an amazing human who was taken from us far too early.” The group hopes to collect £5,000 to support the bereaved children, with the fundraiser ongoing at the time of writing.
This incident has raised questions about the handling of distressed passengers by authorities abroad and the communication provided to families in crisis situations. For Jessica and her children, life has been irreversibly altered, a vivid reminder of how quickly holidays meant for joy can turn to tragedy. The family continues to honour Ben’s memory while navigating the profound loss of a beloved father and partner.