Frontier passengers tackle man who allegedly choked off-duty flight attendant, tried to open door mid-flight

Federal officials person filed charges against the antheral accused of assaulting a formation attendant and trying to flight a Frontier Airlines level earlier passengers pinned him down portion the level was en way to Chicago earlier this week. 

Juan Gabriel Reyes, 51, of Chicago, is charged with interference with formation unit members and attendants, and battle wrong maritime territorial jurisdiction, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida announced Wednesday. 

Court records obtained by Fox News Digital bespeak that astir 45 minutes aft takeoff, Reyes allegedly "became disruptive" arsenic Frontier Airlines Flight 3345 was traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Chicago, Illinois, forcing the aviator to divert to Miami, Florida, connected Sunday.

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Juan Gabriel Reyes, 51, faces charges of interference with formation unit members and battle wrong maritime territorial jurisdiction, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida announced connected Wednesday. (Miami-Dade Correctional Center)

Police said Reyes allegedly attempted to unfastened the aircraft’s 2 exit doors successful midair earlier before helium assaulted different rider connected the flight. A formation attendant besides told authorities they heard Reyes accidental helium wanted to get disconnected the plane.

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Juan Gabriel Reyes is accused of attempting to unfastened 2 exit doors connected a Frontier Airlines airplane traveling from Puerto Rico to Chicago, Ill., connected May 31, 2026, according to national prosecutors. (iStock)

Following aggregate alleged attempts to unfastened the formation platform door, authorities said Reyes sat down successful a spot that was not assigned to him and attacked a 33-year-old off-duty formation attendant who was seated nearby.

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According to tribunal documents, witnesses told constabulary Reyes lunged astatine the formation attendant, grabbed him by the caput and choked him – which prompted passengers and different formation attendant to restrain Reyes with flex cuffs and seatbelt extenders. 

However, Reyes allegedly broke escaped from the restraints aggregate times until a rider stepped successful to incorporate him. Video of the confrontation showed passengers moving to restrain him.

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Juan Gabriel Reyes was restrained by passengers aft allegedly trying to unfastened a Frontier Airlines airplane doorway and battle a formation attendant mid-air connected Sunday, May 31, 2026, according to national prosecutors. (iStock)

"I conscionable grabbed him, restrained him arsenic safely arsenic possible, benignant of conscionable truly enactment him successful his row, and laid him down, benignant of framed against him, controlled his hands and his feet," Josh Longood, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter, told CBS News.  

"It was similar holding a kid down throwing a tantrum," helium added.

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"Frontier Airlines Flight 3345 landed safely astatine Miami International Airport astir 11:55 p.m. local clip connected Sunday, May 31, aft the unit reported a rider disturbance. The formation departed San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was headed to Chicago O’Hare International Airport," the Federal Aviation Administration said successful a connection to Fox News Digital.

Reyes was aboriginal booked into the Miami-Dade Correctional Center and charged with assault, according to jailhouse records obtained by Fox News Digital.

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If convicted, Reyes could look a maximum national situation condemnation of 20 years stemming from the interference complaint and the anticipation of up to a twelvemonth down bars for the battle charge. 

Fox News Digital reached retired to Frontier Airlines, the FBI’s Miami bureau and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s bureau for comment.