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

Juan Gabriel Reyes, 51, of Chicago, is charged with interference with flight crew members and attendants, and assault within maritime territorial jurisdiction, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida announced Wednesday. 

Court records obtained by Fox News Digital indicate that roughly 45 minutes after takeoff, Reyes allegedly "became disruptive" as Frontier Airlines Flight 3345 was traveling from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Chicago, Illinois, forcing the pilot to divert to Miami, Florida, on Sunday.

"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 Fox News Digital.

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

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.