Alaska Airlines Pilot Attempts to Disable Plane’s Engines Mid-Flight, Citing Drug Use and Sleep Deprivation
An off-duty pilot for Alaska Airlines has been accused of attempting to cut fuel to a plane’s engines mid-flight. The incident occurred on a flight from Washington state to San Francisco on Sunday, but quick action from the aircraft’s captain and first officer prevented a complete failure of the engines. Court records obtained by CNN reveal that the pilot, Joseph D. Emerson, claimed to investigators that he believed he was dreaming and had consumed “magic mushrooms” 48 hours prior to the incident.
According to an affidavit filed by prosecutors, Emerson had been awake for 40 hours leading up to the incident. He allegedly sought to “wake up” by pulling the handles of a fire extinguishing system, which would have cut fuel to the engines. Emerson was riding in the cockpit in a jump seat, as is permitted for off-duty pilots. A confrontation ensued when he reached for the fire controls, but the pilots managed to stop him from fully executing his plan.
Emerson had a history of depression and had recently experienced the death of a friend, court documents state. He reportedly told the flight crew that he was having a nervous breakdown and needed to be subdued. It remains unclear if Emerson was under the influence of “magic mushrooms” at the time of the incident, and authorities are investigating this aspect.
A spokesperson for the US Attorney’s Office in Oregon, where Emerson is being held, revealed that he has been charged with interfering with a flight crew. In addition to the federal charge, Emerson faces numerous state charges filed in Oregon, including 83 felony counts of attempted murder and reckless endangerment. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Following the cockpit confrontation, Emerson was taken into custody when the flight diverted to Portland, Oregon. While in custody, he admitted to the incident and discussed his use of psychedelic mushrooms with a police officer. Authorities do not believe the incident was an act of terrorism and suspect it may have been a result of a mental health episode.
Alaska Airlines Flight 2059, operated by regional carrier Horizon Air, reported a “security threat related to an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot” after taking off from Everett, Washington. Emerson had allegedly tried to shut down both engines by pulling the fire extinguisher handles. Fortunately, the crew was able to reset the handles and restore fuel flow, preventing the engines from cutting out.
No injuries were reported on the flight, and all passengers were able to continue their journey to San Francisco with a new crew and aircraft. The airline has reached out to passengers individually to discuss their experience and ensure their well-being.
In light of this incident, authorities are preparing for an assessment of Emerson’s psychological state as part of the court proceedings. The investigation does not suggest any ideological motivation or terrorism.