Former MMA fighter helps restrain passenger who tried to open exit door on Chicago-bound flight

MIAMI, FLORIDA: A former professional MMA fighter helped restrain a passenger who allegedly tried to open an exit door and enter the cockpit aboard a Frontier Airlines flight bound for Chicago, helping prevent what could have become a far more serious midair incident.

Josh Longood, a Chicago resident and former MMA fighter, stepped in when 51-year-old Juan Reyes allegedly became disruptive aboard Frontier Airlines Flight 3345 from San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Monday, June 1. Reyes was arrested after the flight was diverted to Miami, where it landed safely.

Fighter springs into action

Longood said he noticed Reyes behaving erratically during the flight and suspected he might become a danger to others on board.

"I knew he was gonna do something crazy, so I restrained him and then, like, put him against the window and kinda safely controlled him so he couldn't hurt anybody," Longood told CBS News. 

According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, Reyes allegedly tried to open an exit door while the aircraft was in flight and later attempted to reach the cockpit after ignoring repeated instructions from flight attendants.

Passenger accused of attack

Authorities said crew members moved Reyes to another seat, and an off-duty flight attendant volunteered to sit nearby and monitor him.

When the off-duty attendant briefly left to use the restroom, Reyes allegedly attempted to grab his bag. After being told not to touch the belongings, Reyes allegedly attacked the attendant and tried to choke him, police said.

Passengers, including Longood, and crew members then restrained Reyes until the plane landed in Miami.

Flight diverted to Miami

The Federal Aviation Administration said Frontier Airlines Flight 3345 was diverted after crew members reported a passenger disturbance.

The aircraft landed safely at Miami International Airport, where Reyes was taken into custody. He faces a misdemeanor battery charge, while the FBI is also investigating the incident.

Longood later reflected on how close he was to the unfolding disturbance.

"I was just thankful that I was in the row in front of him, because as he was, like, freaking out, I was thinking, I was like, 'Man, I'm so glad I'm, like, here and not, like, up way away from him and multiple rows away,'" Longood said.

Frontier Airlines said the passenger was removed by law enforcement in Miami before the flight continued to Chicago a few hours later.

"Law enforcement boarded the aircraft in Miami and removed the passenger, and the flight subsequently continued to Chicago a few hours later," the airline said in a statement.