Passenger Attempts to Open Airplane Door and MMA Fighter Stops Him

A passenger attempted to open an emergency door mid-flight and a former mixed martial arts fighter subdued him. The incident occurred aboard a Frontier Airlines flight traveling the route between San Juan and Chicago. The plane was diverted to Miami following the tense episode aboard.

The athlete restrained the subject until police boarded the aircraft after the emergency landing. The intervention of John Longood, a former professional MMA fighter, allowed the dangerous situation to be controlled. Longood managed to subdue the passenger until police boarded the plane in Miami, according to CBS News Chicago.

The incident occurred Sunday night on Frontier Airlines Flight 3345. The original destination was Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the crew reported a “passenger disturbance” that required diverting the plane to Miami.

What Did the Passenger Who Caused the Incident Do?

Authorities identified the passenger as Juan Reyes, 51 years old. According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, Reyes attempted to open the emergency door while shouting. The subject was yelling that he wanted to get off the plane immediately during the flight.

Reyes attempted to open an emergency door, tried to enter the cockpit, and urinated on the bathroom floor. The situation became more violent when he assaulted an off-duty flight attendant. The passenger attempted to strangle the flight attendant after the attendant prevented him from taking his belongings.