Former MMA fighter helps stop passenger from opening Frontier door mid-flight

A former professional MMA fighter from Chicago helped stop a Frontier Airlines passenger who tried to open an emergency exit door mid-flight on a flight bound for O’Hare International Airport.

Frontier Airlines Flight 3345 was traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Chicago when crew reported a passenger disturbance and diverted the aircraft to Miami International Airport. The airline said the plane landed safely in Miami before continuing on to its destination after the disruption was resolved.

The disruptive passenger was identified as 51-year-old Juan Gabriel Reyes of Pahokee, Florida. Reporting on the incident says Reyes allegedly assaulted a flight attendant and tried to open an emergency exit door. In some accounts, he also tried to reach the cockpit, adding to the seriousness of the onboard disruption.

Josh Longood, the former professional MMA fighter, was among those who intervened as the situation unfolded. His role drew attention because the episode turned, in a matter of moments, from a routine commercial flight into a security event that required a diversion and a coordinated response from crew and passengers.

The Federal Aviation Administration investigates unruly-passenger incidents that airline crews report to the agency, treating them as potential violations of FAA regulations or federal law. Industry background materials say these episodes surged during the pandemic, peaking at nearly 6,000 in 2021, and were still projected to exceed 2,000 in 2025. Aviation groups continue to describe unruly behavior as a persistent safety concern.

The Frontier case fits a broader pattern that airlines have struggled to contain, including disruptive behavior that can force a diversion, delay hundreds of travelers and put flight attendants, passengers and airport responders at risk. On this flight, the crew’s decision to divert to Miami kept the situation from escalating further and allowed the aircraft to reach Chicago after the disturbance ended.