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, was on his way back to Chicago from his brother’s bachelor party in Puerto Rico on May 31 when the incident unfolded on a Frontier plane.
Utilizing his martial arts skills, Longood managed to restrain the disruptive passenger for about 10 minutes initially and then had to subdue him again when he broke free from the restraints. The ex-MMA fighter maintained control over the situation for 20 to 30 minutes until the plane made an emergency landing in Miami.
Despite being a medical device salesman by profession, Longood’s background as a competitive BJJ black belt and former MMA competitor equipped him to handle the volatile situation effectively. He noticed the erratic behavior of the passenger early on and stayed vigilant, ensuring the safety of other passengers, particularly women and children nearby.
Longood described how he swiftly reacted when the disruptive passenger attacked someone reaching for their bag, preventing any harm. Grateful for being seated close to the situation, he credited his years of BJJ training for keeping him composed throughout the ordeal.
Expressing confidence in his abilities to handle such incidents, Longood stated that he would not hesitate to intervene again if necessary. Frontier Airlines confirmed the disruption on Flight 3345, which was diverted to Miami due to the unruly passenger.
In a separate incident last month, a United Airlines flight had to divert after a passenger allegedly attempted to open a door mid-flight. Despite these occurrences, it is clarified that it is physically impossible for a passenger to open a commercial airplane door during cruising altitude due to the aircraft’s design, including mechanical locks and atmospheric pressure safeguards.