A former MMA fighter and Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt has recounted how he intervened during a mid-flight emergency on a Frontier Airlines plane, after a fellow passenger allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit door and assaulted a flight attendant.
Incident Details
Josh Longood, 37, was returning home to Chicago from his brother’s bachelor party in Puerto Rico on May 31 when the incident unfolded. The disruptive passenger, seated only a few rows away, began acting erratically. Longood, a light sleeper, quickly noticed the disturbance.
“He was just talking and acting crazy,” Longood said. “I could tell he wasn’t going to calm down, so I just kept an eye on him because there were females and young kids around.”
When the man allegedly attacked a flight attendant and tried to open the emergency exit door, Longood sprang into action. Using his martial arts training, he restrained the individual for approximately 10 minutes. However, the passenger later slipped his restraints, prompting Longood to intervene again, this time holding him for 20 to 30 minutes until the plane made an emergency landing in Miami.
Heroic Response
Longood, who works as a medical device salesman but is also a competitive BJJ black belt and former MMA fighter, credited his training for his calm and effective response. “I immediately responded and safely positioned him to where he couldn’t hurt anyone,” he explained. “I’m just thankful I was seated close to him, so I was able to resolve the situation without anyone getting injured. It was my years of BJJ training that helped me stay calm and handle the situation.”
He added that he would not hesitate to act again if necessary, stating, “I’m confident in my training and abilities to handle real-life situations like these.”
Airline Statement
A Frontier Airlines spokeswoman confirmed the incident, noting that Flight 3345 from San Juan to Chicago O’Hare was diverted due to a disruptive passenger. “On Sunday, May 31, a passenger on flight 3345 from San Juan to Chicago O’Hare became disruptive and the flight was diverted to Miami. Law enforcement boarded the aircraft in Miami and removed the passenger, and the flight subsequently continued on to Chicago a few hours later,” she said.
Context and Safety
This incident follows a similar event last month, when a United Airlines flight was forced to divert after a passenger allegedly tried to open a door. That flight, carrying 145 passengers and six crew members from Newark Liberty International Airport to Guatemala City, landed safely at Washington Dulles International Airport.
It is important to note that it is physically impossible for a passenger to open a commercial airplane door at cruising altitude due to mechanical locks and atmospheric pressure. Modern commercial airliners are designed with “plug-type” doors, which are physically larger than the opening frame they fit into, similar to a drain plug in a bath. To open the door, it must first be pulled slightly inward before it can be rotated or pushed outward, which is not possible due to the pressure differential at altitude.
