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Ex-MMA Fighter Stops Passenger, Miami Flight Diverts

6/4/2026

Summary

Longood Subdues Attacker

Flight 3345, which left San Juan on May 31, diverted to Miami at 11:55 p.m. ET after Juan Gabriel Reyes tried to open an exit door and choke-held a flight attendant.
Former MMA fighter John Longood, a jiu-jitsu black belt, restrained Reyes with plastic cuffs for 30 minutes, preventing injuries.
Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office arrested Reyes, who faced a misdemeanor battery charge, posted a $20,000 bond and could face FAA fines over $40,000.

Summary

Reyes Faces Prison

Reyes faces up to 20 years in prison under 49 U.S.C. § 46504 for assaulting airline crew.
Professor Joe Schwieterman of DePaul University says airlines now favor aggressive legal action over de-escalation against unruly passengers.
The FAA logged 687 unruly-passenger reports in 2026, after which a United flight diverted to Madison, Wisconsin when a passenger tried to breach the cockpit, while Frontier resumed a Miami-diverted flight to Chicago hours later.

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Longood Subdues Attacker

Flight 3345, which left San Juan on May 31, diverted to Miami at 11:55 p.m. ET after Juan Gabriel Reyes tried to open an exit door and choke-held a flight attendant.
Former MMA fighter John Longood, a jiu-jitsu black belt, restrained Reyes with plastic cuffs for 30 minutes, preventing injuries.
Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office arrested Reyes, who faced a misdemeanor battery charge, posted a $20,000 bond and could face FAA fines over $40,000.

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