MIAMI — A 51-year-old Chicago man made his initial appearance in federal court here after allegedly attempting to open an emergency exit door and the flight deck door during a commercial flight from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Chicago, forcing the aircraft to divert to Miami.
Juan Gabriel Reyes faces charges of interference with flight crew members and attendants and assault within maritime and territorial jurisdiction, according to court records filed in the Southern District of Florida. The interference charge alone carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison; the assault charge carries up to one year.
U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida and Special Agent in Charge Brett Skiles of the FBI Miami Field Office announced the charges. FBI Miami is investigating the case with assistance from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office.
According to the criminal complaint, Reyes became disruptive during the flight and repeatedly failed to comply with instructions from flight attendants. He allegedly attempted to open both an emergency exit door and the flight deck door while the aircraft was airborne, then allegedly assaulted another passenger before fellow passengers and crew members restrained him. The plane was diverted to Miami, where Reyes was arrested.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Daniel J. Olinghouse is prosecuting the case, filed under case number 26-mj-02992. A complaint is merely an allegation. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
Related court documents are available through the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. No date for Reyes’ next court appearance has been publicly announced.