Title: Alaska Airlines Pilot Refuses to Disclose Mental Health Issues, Attempts to Down Flight During Magic Mushroom-Fueled Meltdown
Publication Date: Oct. 29, 2023
Author: Jorge Fitz-Gibbon
An Alaska Airlines pilot, Joseph Emerson, reportedly twice attempted to crash a fully occupied passenger flight while experiencing a magic mushroom-induced breakdown. It has now been revealed that the pilot refused to divulge information about his mental health, fearing that it would lead to him being grounded, according to a recent report.
The incident took place on October 22nd during a flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco. Authorities stated that Emerson, a veteran pilot, had to be restrained after trying to cut off the engines and forcefully opening an emergency exit midflight.
Oregon Public Broadcasting interviewed Emerson’s wife, Sarah Stretch, who revealed that her husband was deeply depressed leading up to the incident. However, Emerson was reluctant to disclose his mental health struggles to the airline due to concerns about losing his job and being unable to support their financial needs, including paying the mortgage.
Stretch recounted an exchange with her husband, where she urged him to seek professional help. She said, “Maybe you should talk to somebody,” to which Emerson responded, “‘Sarah, I can’t be out of work … We have to pay a mortgage.'” Stretch expressed her concern at his resistance to seeking help given the severity of his condition.
Emerson had admitted to taking psychedelic mushrooms before the flight when questioned by the police. As a passenger on the Alaska Airlines flight under the airline’s practice of allowing off-duty pilots to travel on their airlines, he was sitting in the cockpit.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) permits pilots to self-report any mental health or physical concerns, but it removes them from flying duty once they do so. This self-reporting system also requires pilots to undergo extensive screening before they are allowed back into the cockpit, potentially acting as a deterrent for pilots to disclose their issues openly.
Dr. Brent Blue, a senior aviation medical examiner who works with pilots, explained the process pilots must go through before being cleared to fly again. He stated, “They have to go through evaluations by a psychiatrist and a neuropsychologist. This is a pilot who is being responsible by saying, ‘I am not up to flying because of my grief or whatever.”
Pilots facing health challenges can apply for short-term or long-term disability, though the pay during their leave is typically around 50% of their salary, varying by airline.
Stretch mentioned that her husband had been emotionally struggling since the death of a close friend over five years ago, who served as the best man at their wedding. Emerson was returning from a trip with mutual friends when he exhibited disturbing behavior on the flight.
According to a 2016 study by the National Library of Medicine, 12.6% of commercial airline pilots reported some level of depression, and over 4% admitted to having suicidal thoughts.
The incident has raised concerns about the mental well-being of pilots and whether the current reporting system is effective in ensuring the safety of passengers.