Former MMA fighter helps subdue passenger who tried to open exit door on Chicago-bound flight
Former MMA fighter and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, Josh Longood, found himself in an unexpected situation while on a flight from San Juan to Chicago. Instead of heading home after celebrating his brother’s bachelor party in Puerto Rico, he ended up restraining a fellow passenger who allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit door mid-flight. The incident caused the plane to divert to Miami, where federal prosecutors charged Juan Gabriel Reyes with interference with flight crew members and assault.
The disturbance began about 45 minutes after takeoff when Reyes walked to the front of the aircraft and made contact with an emergency exit door, appearing to try to open it. Despite being instructed not to touch the door, Reyes then attempted to open the cockpit door, forcing flight attendants to divert their attention to deal with him. Witnesses reported that Reyes ignored commands from the crew and even rammed his shoulder into the cockpit door before moving to a seat that was not assigned to him.
As the situation escalated, an off-duty flight attendant volunteered to sit near Reyes in an attempt to diffuse the tension. However, things took a violent turn when Reyes suddenly lunged at the off-duty attendant, climbing on top of him, grabbing him by the head, and choking him. Several passengers, including Longood, intervened to restrain Reyes using flex cuffs and seatbelt extenders. Despite their efforts, Reyes repeatedly broke free from the restraints, requiring passengers to physically hold him down.
Witnesses on the flight recounted how Reyes managed to escape from the flex cuffs multiple times, prompting the flight crew to make the decision to divert the aircraft to Miami. Federal authorities met the plane upon landing to address the situation and take Reyes into custody.
The bravery and quick thinking of passengers like Josh Longood were crucial in preventing a potentially dangerous situation from escalating further. Their actions not only ensured the safety of everyone on board but also highlighted the importance of remaining vigilant and cooperative during air travel.
