A former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter recounted how he intervened when a fellow passenger allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit door during a flight. Josh Longood, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt, showcased his skills on a Frontier plane traveling from Puerto Rico to Chicago on May 31.

Longood, who was returning from his brother’s bachelor party, noticed the disruptive passenger’s behavior and quickly took action to restrain him using his martial arts expertise. Despite the passenger slipping his restraints, Longood managed to control him for about 20 to 30 minutes until the plane made an emergency landing in Miami.

During the incident, Longood, a medical device salesman and former MMA fighter, demonstrated his ability to handle the situation calmly and prevent any harm to other passengers. He emphasized the importance of his years of training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu in dealing with such confrontations.

Reflecting on the event, Longood expressed confidence in his training and readiness to act in similar situations in the future. Frontier confirmed the disruption on Flight 3345 and the subsequent diversion to Miami due to the unruly passenger.

Notably, a recent incident involving a United Airlines flight also highlighted the challenges airlines face with disruptive passengers. The incident led to the diversion of a flight from Newark to Guatemala City, emphasizing the importance of swift interventions in ensuring passenger safety.

It’s important to note that opening a commercial airplane door mid-flight is physically impossible due to built-in security measures like mechanical locks and atmospheric pressure. The design of modern commercial aircraft doors prevents unauthorized access, ensuring the safety of passengers and crew during flights.