Off-duty Pilot Charged with Attempted Murder After Attempting to Shut Down Plane’s Engines Mid-Flight
An off-duty pilot riding in the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines flight en route to San Francisco on Sunday is facing dozens of attempted murder charges after he tried to shut down the plane’s engines mid-flight, authorities say. The suspect, identified as Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph D. Emerson, 44, attempted to cut off fuel to the engines but the quick action of the aircraft’s captain and first officer kept the engines from failing completely, the airline said, adding Emerson was subdued by the flight crew. The flight was forced to divert to Portland, Oregon, where the suspect was taken into custody.
Emerson has been charged in Oregon with 83 felony counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment, and one count of endangering an aircraft. Authorities do not believe the incident was an act of terrorism or ideologically motivated violence.
According to the airline, Emerson, who was traveling in the flight deck jump seat, had tried to shut down both engines by pulling the fire extinguisher handles. The crew’s quick reaction to reset both handles helped restore the flow of fuel and prevent the engines from cutting out.
Passengers on the flight praised the calm response of the airline crew during the incident. They were initially unaware of the situation until a flight attendant announced that the plane needed to land immediately. The pilot later informed passengers that there had been a disturbance in the cockpit.
After the plane landed in Portland, police officers boarded the aircraft and escorted the suspect off. Passengers praised the Alaska crew for their handling of the situation.
Emerson, who has worked in aviation for at least two decades, held several certifications to fly different types of aircraft. However, FAA records show that he did not hold a certification to fly the specific type of plane involved in Sunday’s incident.
The FBI and local law enforcement are continuing to investigate the incident. The FBI’s Portland field office confirmed its investigation and assured travelers that there is no continuing threat related to the incident. The Federal Aviation Administration has also provided support to local law enforcement in the investigation.