A former MMA fighter intervened when a passenger allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit door during a Frontier Airlines flight from Puerto Rico to Chicago. Josh Longood, a 37-year-old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, was returning from his brother's bachelor party on 31 May when the incident occurred.
According to Longood, the passenger began acting erratically before assaulting a flight attendant and trying to open the exit door. Longood used his martial arts training to restrain the man for approximately 10 minutes. However, the passenger later slipped his restraints, prompting Longood to hold him for another 20 to 30 minutes until the plane made an emergency landing in Miami.
Longood, a medical device salesman and competitive BJJ black belt, said he was a light sleeper and noticed the commotion just a few rows away. '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,' he told the Mirror. He added that his training helped him stay calm and resolve the situation without anyone getting injured.
A Frontier spokeswoman confirmed the disruption on Flight 3345, stating that law enforcement removed the passenger in Miami and the flight continued to Chicago a few hours later. The incident follows a similar event last month when a United Airlines flight was diverted after a passenger allegedly tried to open a door.
Aviation experts note that it is physically impossible to open a commercial aircraft door at cruising altitude due to mechanical locks and atmospheric pressure. Modern planes use 'plug-type' doors that are larger than the opening, requiring inward movement that is prevented by cabin pressure.
