Off-Duty Pilot's Mid-Air Emergency Attempt
A former Alaska Airlines pilot, Joseph Emerson from California, is set to be sentenced on Monday, 17 November, after a terrifying incident aboard a Horizon Air flight. The event unfolded on 22 October 2023 during a journey from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco.
Emerson, who was off-duty and seated in a spare cockpit seat, attempted to shut down the aircraft's engines mid-flight. The plane was carrying more than 80 people at the time. Quick-thinking crew members intervened, physically restraining him and preventing a catastrophe.
Details of the Cockpit Incident
According to reports, Emerson later told police he had consumed psychedelic mushrooms 48 hours prior and had not slept in over 40 hours. He was also reportedly distressed over the recent death of a friend. During the episode, he stated he believed he was in a dream and tried to wake himself by pulling two handles that would have cut fuel to the engines and activated the fire suppression system.
Thanks to the crew's swift actions, the flight was safely diverted to Portland. Emerson was subsequently arrested and faced multiple charges.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing Outcome
Emerson was charged in federal court with interfering with a flight crew. A separate state indictment charged him with one count of endangering an aircraft and 83 counts of endangering another person—one for every person on board besides himself.
After pleading guilty or no contest to the charges in September, his sentencing has now taken place. Prosecutors had pushed for a one-year prison sentence, while his defence requested probation.
The state court has sentenced him to 50 days in jail, with credit for time already served. His sentence also includes:
- 664 hours of community service
- Five years of probation
- Over $60,000 in restitution
Furthermore, the court ordered him to undergo assessments for drug, alcohol, and mental health treatment and to refrain from using any non-prescribed drugs. He must also maintain a distance of at least 25 feet from any operable aircraft unless granted permission by his probation officer.
In a significant decision, the court ruled that half of his community service can be completed at the non-profit organisation he founded after his arrest, which focuses on pilot health.
Emerson has expressed profound remorse and gratitude towards the flight crew, stating they gave him 'the greatest gift' by saving his life and the lives of everyone on board. He described the ordeal as a difficult journey that has made him a better person.
