A former mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter recounted his intervention in preventing a passenger from allegedly attempting to open an emergency exit door mid-flight. Josh Longood, a Chicago-bound traveler from his brother’s bachelor party in Puerto Rico on May 31, took action when a fellow passenger reportedly assaulted a flight attendant and tried to open the exit door on a Frontier plane.
Utilizing his Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt expertise, the 37-year-old subdued the individual for approximately 10 minutes and had to restrain him a second time when the passenger managed to evade the initial restraints. Maintaining control for 20 to 30 minutes, Longood’s quick thinking led to the plane making an emergency landing in Miami.
By profession a medical device salesman, Longood’s background as a competitive BJJ black belt and former MMA fighter equipped him to handle the situation effectively. Observing the erratic behavior of the other passenger nearby, Longood remained vigilant as the situation unfolded, ensuring the safety of other passengers, including women and children.
Recalling the moment of the altercation, Longood described swiftly intervening to prevent harm: “I immediately responded and safely positioned him to where he couldn’t hurt anyone. 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.”
Expressing confidence in his abilities to handle such scenarios, Longood affirmed his readiness to act if required: “I’m confident in my training and abilities to handle real-life situations like these.”
A Frontier spokesperson confirmed the incident, stating that Flight 3345 to Chicago had to be diverted due to a disruptive passenger. This incident follows a recent occurrence involving a United Airlines flight that was diverted due to a passenger’s disruptive behavior.
It is worth noting that the physical impossibility of opening commercial airplane doors mid-flight due to mechanical locks and atmospheric pressure safeguards passengers’ safety. Modern aircraft are designed with doors that require a specific operation sequence, making it unfeasible to open them during flight.
