A Frontier Airlines flight turned into chaos when passengers and crew had to restrain a disruptive flyer who allegedly tried to open exit doors and force his way into the cockpit during a terrifying mid-air incident.
Frontier Airlines Flight 3345 had taken off from San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was headed to Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Sunday when crew members reported a “passenger disturbance,” according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Authorities said the man allegedly began trying to open emergency exit doors while claiming he wanted to get off the plane.
Flight attendants reportedly pleaded with him to sit down and stop, but he allegedly ignored them and rushed toward the front of the aircraft.
According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the passenger then tried to get into the pilot’s cabin.
The situation became even more frightening when an off-duty flight attendant volunteered to sit in the man’s row to help keep him under control. When the off-duty attendant later got up to use the bathroom, the passenger allegedly tried to grab his bag and choke him.
That is when other passengers jumped into action.
Video shared on social media showed one passenger, Josh Longood, wearing a Jiu-Jitsu shirt as he helped flight attendants and other travelers hold down the shouting man and restrain his wrists with zip ties.
Longood is reportedly a former professional MMA fighter, a competitive Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt and a medical device salesman.
After helping restrain the passenger, Longood posted about the wild experience on Instagram.
“After these pics, he slipped the ties, so I had to hold him down until our emergency landing in Miami,” he wrote. “Luckily, I’m a light sleeper and was only a row away when this all went down.”
He added, “Glad everyone made it home safely, hoping my next flight is significantly more boring.”
The flight was diverted to Miami International Airport, where it landed safely just before noon local time.
Law enforcement boarded the plane after landing and removed the passenger. Authorities said he was arrested and charged with misdemeanor battery.
The passenger’s name had not been released.
Frontier Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement, saying 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 on to Chicago a few hours later,” a Frontier spokesperson said.
For the passengers on board, what was supposed to be a routine flight became a frightening airborne struggle to keep one man under control until the plane could safely land.
Thanks to the quick actions of crew members and brave travelers, the situation ended without a larger disaster.
