CRIME
Off-Duty Pilot Allegedly Took Mushrooms, Hadn’t Slept In 40 Hours Before Trying To Cut Engines Midflight
Joe Emerson/Facebook
An off-duty pilot charged with more than 80 counts of attempted murder after allegedly trying to shut off a plane’s engines midflight told authorities he was dealing with depression and had taken psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours earlier, according to charging documents.
Joseph David Emerson, 44, was riding in the cockpits flight deck jump seat on Flight 2059, operated by Alaska Airlines subsidiary Horizon Air, which took off Sunday evening from Everett, Wash., en route to San Francisco, Calif., but was diverted to Portland International Airport due to a credible security threat, the airline said.
Captain Emerson unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt the operation of the engines. The Horizon Captain and First Officer quickly responded, and the crew secured the aircraft without incident, Alaska Airlines said in a statement Tuesday.
The airline said Emerson attempted to engage the Engine Fire Handles, or T-handles, also known as the fire suppression system, which cut fuel to the engines.
The quick reaction of our crew to reset the T-handles ensured engine power was not lost. Our crew responded without hesitation to a difficult and highly unusual situation, and we are incredibly proud and grateful for their skillful actions, the airline said.
Emerson was placed in wrist restraints and belted into the aft jump seat at the rear of the plane, according to both the airline and the probably cause affidavit for his arrest.
Our crew also confirmed that Emerson attempted to grab the handle of the emergency exit during the aircrafts descent before being stopped by a Flight Attendant, the airline said.
The flight landed at Portland International Airport in Oregon about an hour after taking off, and Emerson was arrested by Port of Portland police.
According to charging documents, Emerson told Port of Portland police that he was depressed after a friend recently died, and he took psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours before the incident. He also said he had not slept in more than 40 hours. An FBI agent wrote that Emerson said it was his first time taking mushrooms.
Psilocybin mushrooms are legal in Oregon for controlled adult use, after the Food and Drug Administration in 2018 said they can be beneficial for treating depression and substance use disorders.
According to Alaska Airlines, no one suspected Emerson to be intoxicated at the time he boarded the flight.
At no time during the check-in or boarding process did our Gate Agents or flight crew observe any signs of impairment that would have led them to prevent Emerson from flying on Flight 2059, Alaska Airlines said.
The airline said Emerson was relieved of all duties and removed from service indefinitely.
Emerson was booked on 83 counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment, and one count of endangering an aircraft, according to booking records from the Multnomah County Sheriffs Office. He pleaded not guilty on Tuesday.
TMX contributed to this article.
