A former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter intervened when a plane passenger allegedly attempted to open an emergency exit mid-flight. Josh Longood, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt and former MMA competitor, was on his way back to Chicago from his brother’s bachelor party in Puerto Rico on May 31 when the incident occurred on a Frontier plane.
Longood utilized his martial arts expertise to subdue the unruly passenger for about 10 minutes initially, and then for an additional 20 to 30 minutes after the passenger managed to slip his restraints. The plane had to make an emergency landing in Miami due to the disturbance caused by the passenger.
During the incident, Longood, a medical device salesman by profession, demonstrated his ability to handle the situation calmly, crediting his years of training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He noticed the passenger’s erratic behavior early on and took swift action to prevent any harm to other passengers on the plane.
Reflecting on the event, Longood expressed confidence in his training and readiness to respond to such situations in the future. A Frontier spokeswoman confirmed the incident, stating that Flight 3345 had to be diverted to Miami due to the disruptive passenger.
In a separate incident the previous month, a United Airlines flight had to divert following a similar mid-air emergency. The plane had 145 passengers and six crew members on board, and the pilot opted to divert the flight to Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia due to an unruly passenger.
It’s important to note that it is physically impossible for a passenger to open a commercial airplane door at cruising altitude due to safety mechanisms in place, including mechanical locks and atmospheric pressure. Commercial aircraft doors are designed with “plug-type” mechanisms, making it extremely difficult to open the door mid-flight.
