Federal charges have been filed against Juan Gabriel Reyes, 51, for attempting to open an exit door mid-flight on a Frontier Airlines plane and assaulting an off-duty flight attendant. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, Reyes is charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants, as well as assault within maritime territorial jurisdiction.
Key Takeaways
Federal charges have been filed against Juan Gabriel Reyes for attempting to open an exit door mid-flight on a Frontier Airlines plane and assaulting an off-duty flight attendant. Passengers, including former MMA fighter Josh Longood, restrained Reyes until the plane made an emergency landing in Miami.
- Federal charges filed against Juan Gabriel Reyes for interference with flight crew and assault
- Reyes attempted to open exit doors mid-flight on Frontier Airlines Flight 3345 from San Juan to Chicago
- Former MMA fighter Josh Longood helped restrain Reyes, preventing further harm
- Plane made an emergency landing in Miami; Reyes arrested and held at Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center
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▼Source Claims Check
1 Difference FoundAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 3 key claims. 1 point of difference noted.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incident Details | 1 Difference | CBS News and Fox News report Reyes attempted to open exit doors mid-flight, while dailymail.com states he tried to open an emergency exit door. | ▼ |
| Charges | Broad Agreement | Interference with flight crew, assault within maritime territorial jurisdiction | |
| Restraint | Broad Agreement | Passengers and flight attendants restrained Reyes with seatbelt extenders and flex cuffs. | |
| Emergency Landing | Broad Agreement | Plane made an emergency landing in Miami; Reyes arrested. |
Incident Details
▼CBS News and Fox News report Reyes attempted to open exit doors mid-flight, while dailymail.com states he tried to open an emergency exit door.
Charges
Broad AgreementInterference with flight crew, assault within maritime territorial jurisdiction
Restraint
Broad AgreementPassengers and flight attendants restrained Reyes with seatbelt extenders and flex cuffs.
Emergency Landing
Broad AgreementPlane made an emergency landing in Miami; Reyes arrested.
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The incident occurred on Frontier Airlines Flight 3345, which was traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Chicago O'Hare International Airport. Approximately 45 minutes after takeoff, Reyes allegedly became disruptive and attempted to open the plane's exit doors in mid-air, stating he wanted to get off the plane.
When flight attendants tried to stop him, Reyes reportedly attacked an off-duty flight attendant, attempting to choke him. Passengers and other flight attendants intervened, using seatbelt extenders and flex cuffs to restrain Reyes. Among those who helped subdue Reyes was Josh Longood, a former MMA fighter with a black belt in Brazilian jujitsu.
Longood described the incident as 'like holding a kid down throwing a tantrum.' He held Reyes down until the plane made an emergency landing in Miami, where local police took him into custody. Reyes is currently being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $20,000 bond.
If convicted, Reyes faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years for the interference charge and up to a year for the assault charge. The FBI's Miami office is investigating the incident with help from the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office. Frontier Airlines Flight 3345 eventually continued to Chicago after the emergency landing.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.