Off-Duty Pilot Charged with Attempted Murder After Attempting to Shut Down Plane’s Engines Mid-Flight
An off-duty pilot is facing multiple charges of attempted murder after allegedly trying to shut down the engines of an Alaska Airlines flight mid-flight. The suspect, identified as Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph D. Emerson, 44, attempted to cut off fuel to the engines of the Embraer 175 plane, but the quick action of the aircraft’s captain and first officer prevented the engines from failing completely, according to the airline. The flight, en route from Washington state to San Francisco, was forced to divert to Portland, Oregon, where the suspect was detained by Port of Portland police.
Emerson has been charged with 83 counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment, and one count of endangering an aircraft. He is currently being held without bail at the Multnomah County Jail and is expected to appear in court on Tuesday afternoon. Authorities do not believe the incident was an act of terrorism or ideologically motivated violence, but rather the result of a mental health episode.
According to Alaska Airlines, while riding in the cockpit “jump seat,” Emerson tried to shut down the engines by pulling the fire extinguisher handles, which caused the fire suppression system to activate. However, the crew’s quick reaction to reset the handles prevented the engines from cutting out completely. The flight safely landed in Portland, and no injuries were reported.
Passengers on the flight commended the calm response of the airline crew during the incident. One passenger said they were not aware of the seriousness of the situation until after the plane landed, and they are grateful they were not informed earlier as it may have caused more distress.
Emerson has worked in aviation for over two decades, first joining the Alaska Air Group in 2001. Throughout his career, he maintained the necessary certifications to fly various aircraft, according to Alaska Airlines. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are considering additional federal charges against Emerson. Both the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration are assisting in the investigation.
Travelers have been assured that there is no ongoing threat related to this incident, and the airline is reaching out to passengers individually to offer support and check on their well-being.