Alaska Airlines Pilot Who Attempted to Shut Down Airplane’s Engines Faces Charges of Recklessly Endangering Another Person

Joseph David Emerson, an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot, made headlines on October 22, 2023 when it was revealed that he had attempted to shut down the engines of an airplane mid-flight while high on psychedelic mushrooms. Since his arrest, Emerson has been held in the Multnomah County Detention Center, and a grand jury has decided to charge him with 83 reckless endangerment misdemeanor counts and one count of felony endangering an aircraft. His lawyers issued a statement, arguing that he didn’t intend any harm to the passengers or the aircraft. They are working on a release plan for Emerson, expressing confidence that he will return home to his family soon. It was revealed that the pilot was struggling with mental health issues, which led him to take the hallucinogenic mushrooms. The incident has raised concerns about the mental health of pilots and the effectiveness of the FAA’s existing regulations. The case has also prompted a lawsuit from several passengers who accused Alaska Airlines of failing to implement proper pre-flight security screening.