A routine flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco was thrown into chaos on Sunday when an off-duty pilot travelling in the cockpit allegedly attempted to sabotage the aircraft's engines, forcing the pilots to declare an emergency and divert to Portland.
The shocking incident occurred aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 2059, operated by its regional carrier Horizon Air. According to authorities, the individual, identified as 44-year-old Joseph David Emerson, was riding in the cockpit jumpseat—a common practice for off-duty pilots commuting to work.
Mid-Flight Mayhem and Quick-Thinking Crew
Mid-flight, Emerson allegedly attempted to grab and pull the engine fire suppression handles, which would have cut fuel to the engines and potentially caused a catastrophic failure. The quick-thinking flight crew immediately intervened, wrestling with Emerson and successfully subduing him.
"The crew was able to subdue the suspect and he was removed from the cockpit," the Port of Portland stated. "The suspect was placed in restraints and he was moved to the rear of the aircraft."
The pilots promptly declared an emergency, and the Embraer 175 jet was safely diverted to Portland International Airport (PDX), landing without further incident at approximately 6:30 pm local time.
Suspect in Custody and Ongoing Investigation
Upon landing, Port of Portland police officers met the aircraft and took Emerson into custody. He was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on a multitude of serious charges, including 83 counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment, and one count of endangering an aircraft.
Alaska Airlines confirmed the terrifying ordeal in a statement, emphasising that at no point were any of the 80 passengers and four crew members on board the E175 in immediate danger thanks to the crew's exemplary handling of the situation.
"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.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the FBI have launched a full investigation into the incident, which has sent shockwaves through the aviation community. The motive behind the off-duty pilot's alleged actions remains unclear and is a key focus of the ongoing probe.
