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Federal authorities have officially charged a man accused of attacking a flight attendant and attempting to exit a Frontier Airlines aircraft mid-flight. This dramatic incident was thwarted by fellow passengers who subdued him as the plane headed to Chicago earlier this week.
The accused, 51-year-old Juan Gabriel Reyes from Chicago, is facing charges of interfering with flight crew members and committing assault within maritime territorial jurisdiction, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida on Wednesday.
According to court documents obtained by News Media, the trouble began approximately 45 minutes after departure. Reyes allegedly became disruptive on Frontier Airlines Flight 3345, which was traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Chicago, Illinois. The disturbance was severe enough that the pilot opted to divert the flight to Miami, Florida, this past Sunday.
Authorities allege that Reyes attempted to open two exit doors while the aircraft was in the air and assaulted another passenger. A flight attendant reported overhearing Reyes express a desire to leave the plane.
Police said Reyes allegedly attempted to open the aircraft’s two exit doors in midair before before he assaulted another passenger on the flight. A flight attendant also told authorities they heard Reyes say he wanted to get off the plane.
Juan Gabriel Reyes is accused of attempting to open two exit doors on a Frontier Airlines airplane traveling from Puerto Rico to Chicago, Ill., on May 31, 2026, according to federal prosecutors. (iStock)
Following multiple alleged attempts to open the flight deck door, authorities said Reyes sat down in a seat that was not assigned to him and attacked a 33-year-old off-duty flight attendant who was seated nearby.
According to court documents, witnesses told police Reyes lunged at the flight attendant, grabbed him by the head and choked him – which prompted passengers and another flight attendant to restrain Reyes with flex cuffs and seatbelt extenders.Â
However, Reyes allegedly broke free from the restraints multiple times until a passenger stepped in to contain him. Video of the confrontation showed passengers working to restrain him.
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Juan Gabriel Reyes was restrained by passengers after allegedly trying to open a Frontier Airlines airplane door and assault a flight attendant mid-air on Sunday, May 31, 2026, according to federal prosecutors. (iStock)
“I just grabbed him, restrained him as safely as possible, kind of just really put him in his row, and laid him down, kind of framed against him, controlled his hands and his feet,” Josh Longood, a Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighter, told CBS News. Â
“It was like holding a kid down throwing a tantrum,” he added.
“Frontier Airlines Flight 3345 landed safely at Miami International Airport around 11:55 p.m. local time on Sunday, May 31, after the crew reported a passenger disturbance. The flight departed San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was headed to Chicago O’Hare International Airport,” the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement to News Media.
Reyes was later booked into the Miami-Dade Correctional Center and charged with assault, according to jail records obtained by News Media.
If convicted, Reyes could face a maximum federal prison sentence of 20 years stemming from the interference charge and the possibility of up to a year behind bars for the assault charge.Â
News Media reached out to Frontier Airlines, the FBI’s Miami office and the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s office for comment.Â
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