An off-duty airline pilot has been charged with a staggering 83 counts of attempted murder after a terrifying mid-air incident where he allegedly tried to cut the engines of a passenger jet. The event triggered an in-flight emergency and forced the plane to divert abruptly.
Chaos in the Cockpit
The alarming episode unfolded aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 2059, an Airbus A320 en route from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco. The off-duty pilot, identified as 44-year-old Joseph David Emerson, was riding in the cockpit's jump seat—a common practice for commuting airline staff.
According to official charging documents, Emerson suddenly attempted to grab and pull two red fire handles located between the pilots' seats. Engaging these handles would have cut off fuel to the engines, causing the aircraft to potentially fall from the sky.
Heroic Crew Thwarts Disaster
The quick-thinking flight crew immediately intervened, wrestling Emerson's hands away from the critical controls. A violent struggle ensued within the confined space of the cockpit before the pilots managed to subdue the suspect.
"There was a brief physical struggle between the flight crew and Mr Emerson before he was ultimately restrained and removed from the cockpit," an affidavit stated. He was then escorted to the rear of the aircraft and placed in restraints for the remainder of the flight.
Emergency Diversion to Portland
Following the harrowing altercation, the pilots declared an emergency and immediately diverted the aircraft to Portland International Airport (PDX). The plane landed safely without further incident at approximately 6:30 pm local time.
Upon landing, Port of Portland police officers boarded the aircraft and placed Emerson under arrest. He was subsequently booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.
Mounting Criminal Charges
Emerson now faces a multitude of serious charges. In addition to the 83 counts of attempted murder—one for every person on board—he has been charged with 83 counts of reckless endangerment and a single count of endangering an aircraft.
Alaska Airlines confirmed the identity of the individual involved and stated he was authorized to ride in the jump seat. The airline emphasised that no weapons were involved in the incident.
The FBI and the Port of Portland Police are leading the investigation into what could have been one of the most catastrophic aviation disasters in recent history, as authorities work to determine a motive for the alleged sabotage attempt.
