UMVA has learned that a shocking incident unfolded on a Frontier Airlines flight, where a deranged passenger's desperate attempt to escape the plane mid-air turned into a heart-stopping scene.
The chaos erupted about 45 minutes into the flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport, when 51-year-old Juan Gabriel Reyes began acting erratically, trying to pry open an emergency exit door and claiming he just wanted to "get off the plane."
As crew members and passengers watched in horror, Reyes ignored orders to sit down and instead rushed toward the cockpit, aggressively shoving his shoulder against the door in a bid to break in, before turning his attention to an off-duty flight attendant and choking him.
That's when a hero emerged in the form of Josh Longood, a former professional MMA fighter and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt instructor, who happened to be on board and wearing a Jiu-Jitsu shirt, and he instantly sprang into action.
Using his fighting skills and makeshift restraints like flex ties and seatbelts, Longood managed to subdue Reyes and tie him up in his seat for the remainder of the flight, which was diverted for an emergency landing at Miami International Airport.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Longood's quick thinking and bravery prevented a potentially disastrous situation from unfolding, and he has since spoken about the incident, describing how he stayed calm and drew on his years of training to handle the situation and keep everyone safe.
The plane eventually touched down safely, and Miami-Dade Sheriff's deputies arrested Reyes on a misdemeanor charge of battery, bringing an end to the terrifying ordeal that had unfolded at 30,000 feet.
