A Frontier Airlines flight covering the route between San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Chicago had to be emergency diverted to Miami after a passenger allegedly tried to open an emergency exit in mid-flight, tried to access the cockpit and attacked a person linked to the airline. Moment that did not go unnoticed on social networks.

Federal authorities identified the defendant as Juan Gabriel Reyes, 51, who appeared in federal court in South Florida and faces charges of interfering with the crew of an aircraft and assault. If found guilty, he could receive a sentence of up to 21 years in prison.

According to the United States Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, the events occurred aboard Frontier Airlines Flight 3345 last Sunday, when the aircraft was already en route to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

According to the preliminary investigation, Reyes began behaving erratically and repeatedly stated that he wanted to leave the plane while it was thousands of feet above the ground. Witnesses and crew members indicated that the passenger tried to manipulate one of the emergency doors, a situation that activated the safety protocols on board.

Passengers and crew intervened to control the situation

Official reports indicate that the flight attendants ordered the passenger to return to his seat, but he ignored the instructions and subsequently tried to approach the pilot cabin.

The crew managed to prevent his access and led him back to his seat. However, during the trip, the man entered the bathroom and allegedly tried to urinate on the floor, according to documents from Miami-Dade authorities.

Given growing concern about his behavior, a Frontier Airlines worker who was traveling off-duty decided to sit near him to help monitor the situation. It was then that, according to investigators, Reyes tried to take some of her belongings and later violently grabbed her head and neck.

Several passengers reacted immediately to restrain him. Among them was Josh Longood, a Chicago resident and former professional mixed martial arts fighter, who helped restrain the defendant until the plane landed.

Longood later recounted that he used his knowledge of self-defense to control the passenger without causing additional injuries to those on board.

Federal investigation and growing concern over air incidents

The aircraft was diverted to Miami International Airport, where it landed safely shortly before midnight. Federal agents and local authorities boarded the plane and proceeded to arrest Reyes.

After police intervention, the flight later continued to Chicago with the rest of the passengers.

The Prosecutor's Office reported that the defendant faces a federal charge of interference with air crew, a crime that can carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. In addition, he faces an additional charge of assault, which could add an additional year to an eventual sentence. The case is also investigated by the FBI in Miami.

Federal authorities have expressed concern about the increase in aggressive or disruptive behavior on commercial flights. Data from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) show that incidents involving disruptive passengers have increased considerably since 2019, accumulating thousands of reports in recent years.

The FAA maintains a national campaign to reinforce compliance with aviation safety regulations and warn about the criminal consequences faced by those who put passengers and crews at risk during a flight.