Juan Gabriel Reyes, a 51-year-old passenger on Frontier Airlines Flight 3345, faces two federal charges after he allegedly tried to open an emergency exit and force his way into the cockpit, then choked an off-duty flight attendant before other passengers restrained him and the plane made an emergency landing in Miami on May 31, 2026.1U.S. Department of Justice. Passenger Charged After Allegedly Attempting to Open Aircraft Doors Mid-Flight
What Happened on Frontier Flight 3345
Flight 3345 was traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Chicago O’Hare when Reyes began acting erratically about 45 minutes after takeoff.2KCRA. Frontier Flight Diverted to Miami After Passenger Attacks Flight Attendant According to a federal criminal complaint and a Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office arrest affidavit, he tried to open an emergency exit door, telling nearby passengers he wanted to get off the plane.3CBS News Chicago. Federal Charges Filed Against Man Who Tried to Open Door on Frontier Flight When crew intervened, Reyes moved to the front of the aircraft and began shoving his shoulder into the cockpit door.4ABC7 News. Frontier Passenger Chokes Off-Duty Flight Attendant After Trying to Open Exit Door and Cockpit
A flight attendant guided him away from the cockpit and let him use the restroom, where the affidavit states he tried to urinate on the floor. Crew then reseated him, and an off-duty Frontier flight attendant, a 33-year-old man, volunteered to sit in the same row to help watch him.5Scripps News. Frontier Passenger Charged for Choking Off-Duty Flight Attendant
According to the complaint, Reyes then reached for the off-duty attendant’s bag on the floor. When the attendant told him to stop and moved across the aisle, Reyes climbed on top of him, grabbed his head, and choked him.6CNN. Frontier Passenger Chokes Off-Duty Flight Attendant After Trying to Open Exit Door and Cockpit
How Passengers Restrained Him
Several passengers and on-duty crew pulled Reyes off the attendant and tried to secure him with flex cuffs and seatbelt extenders. He broke free multiple times.7Fox 5 NY. Frontier Passengers Tackle Man Who Allegedly Choked Off-Duty Flight Attendant
Josh Longood, a 37-year-old passenger seated in the same row and a former MMA fighter with a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, pinned Reyes against the window, laid him down across the row, and held him there.8Fox 8 Cleveland. Mansfield Native Helps Restrain Frontier Passenger Trying to Open Door Mid-Flight Longood told a local CBS affiliate that Reyes briefly lost consciousness and kept slipping out of the hand ties when he woke up, so Longood stayed on top of him for roughly 30 minutes until the plane landed. He said he could smell alcohol on Reyes during the encounter.2KCRA. Frontier Flight Diverted to Miami After Passenger Attacks Flight Attendant
The pilot diverted the flight to Miami International Airport, landing at about 11:55 p.m. local time on Sunday, May 31, 2026. Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies boarded the aircraft and removed Reyes, who was initially booked into a Miami-Dade jail on a state battery charge with a $20,000 bond.9NBC Miami. Frontier Flight Diverted to Miami After Disruptive Passenger Arrest Frontier said the flight continued on to Chicago a few hours later.10Fox 32 Chicago. Chicago-Bound Flight Diverted Due to Unruly Passenger
The Federal Charges Against Reyes
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida filed charges against Reyes under case number 26-mj-02992. The two counts are:
- Interference with flight crew members and attendants under 49 U.S.C. § 46504, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.11Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 49 USC 46504 – Interference With Flight Crew Members and Attendants
- Assault within maritime and territorial jurisdiction under 18 U.S.C. § 113, at the tier for assault by striking, beating, or wounding, which carries a maximum of one year in prison.12Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 USC Chapter 7 – Assault
Reyes could also face FAA civil fines exceeding $40,000. The agency can impose penalties of up to $43,658 per violation for unruly passenger behavior under its zero-tolerance policy.13Federal Aviation Administration. Unruly Passengers
Where the Case Stands
Reyes made his initial appearance in Miami federal court on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, and was appointed a federal public defender, Elizabeth Blair. He was turned over to the FBI for investigation.6CNN. Frontier Passenger Chokes Off-Duty Flight Attendant After Trying to Open Exit Door and Cockpit According to the Sun-Sentinel, he was held without bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center, with a pretrial detention hearing set for Friday, June 5, 2026.14Sun-Sentinel. Man Accused of Attempting to Break Into Pilots Cabin on Frontier Flight Diverted to South Florida As of early June 2026, Reyes had not entered a plea, and no trial date had been set.9NBC Miami. Frontier Flight Diverted to Miami After Disruptive Passenger Arrest The U.S. Attorney’s Office declined to comment beyond its initial announcement.