A Frontier Airlines flight bound for Chicago was forced to make an emergency diversion to Miami after a passenger allegedly attempted to open an exit door, tried to access the cockpit, and later attacked an off-duty flight attendant who stepped in to help manage the situation.
According to federal court documents and an arrest affidavit from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, which was obtained by CNN, Frontier Airlines Flight 3345 departed San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Sunday evening, May 31, en route to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, when 51-year-old Juan Gabriel Reyes became disruptive roughly 45 minutes into the trip.
Authorities say Reyes repeatedly stated that he wanted to get off the aircraft and attempted to open an emergency exit door while the plane was in flight.
After being prevented from accessing the exit, Reyes allegedly moved toward the cockpit and aggressively pushed against the flight deck door. Crew members intervened and redirected him away from the area.
During the effort to return him to his seat, authorities say Reyes attempted to urinate on the floor of an airplane restroom before being relocated elsewhere on the aircraft.
The situation escalated further when an off-duty flight attendant volunteered to sit near Reyes. According to a federal criminal complaint, a dispute over the attendant’s belongings quickly turned physical.
Investigators allege Reyes “grabbed the victim by the head and choked him” after the attendant asked him to stop handling a bag. Several passengers and crew members then worked together to restrain Reyes using flex cuffs and seatbelt extenders.
Video shared online by one of the passengers who helped subdue Reyes shows multiple people holding the man down in the cabin while crew members worked to maintain control of the situation.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the aircraft diverted to Miami International Airport, where it landed shortly before midnight. Reyes was taken into custody by local authorities and later turned over to the FBI.
Reyes now faces federal charges that include interference with flight crew members and attendants, as well as assault within the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
Federal law treats assaults against flight attendants particularly seriously. Under 49 U.S.C. § 46504, assaulting, threatening, or intimidating a crew member in a way that interferes with their duties can result in penalties of up to 20 years in federal prison.
Additional assault-related charges and substantial civil fines may also apply.
The incident arrives amid continued concerns about disruptive behavior aboard commercial flights. Since January 2026, the FAA has received 687 reports of unruly passengers.
Just days before this Frontier Airlines incident, a separate flight was diverted after a passenger allegedly made repeated attempts to breach the cockpit.
