Off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot, 44, 'tried to shut down jet's Engines in mid-air

hollydolly

hollydolly

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while riding in cockpit jump seat,' faces 83 counts of attempted murder​

An off-duty pilot accused of trying to shut off the engines on a packed-out Alaska Airlines passenger jet on Sunday has been charged with 83 counts of attempted murder.

Joseph David Emerson, 44, faces the litany of homicide charges along with an additional 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft, police documents show.

Emerson is believed to have been sat in the jump seat beside the operating pilot on board a Embraer 175 plane flying from Everett in suburban Seattle to San Francisco.

He is accused of attempting to deploy the fire suppression system before crew members managed to 'subdue' him and remove him from the controls, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Alaska Airlines said the flight, which departed Washington state at 5.23pm, was diverted to Portland International Airport following the 'security threat'.
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'On Oct. 22, Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 operated by Horizon Air from Everett, WA (PAE) to San Francisco, CA (SFO) reported a credible security threat related to an authorized occupant in the flight deck jump seat,′ Alaska Airlines said.

'The crew secured the aircraft without incident.

'We are grateful for the professional handling of the situation by the Horizon flight crew and appreciate our guests' calm and patience throughout this event.'

Live Air Traffic audio appears to show a pilot describing the person believed to be Emerson 'subdued' after the incident, suggesting there was a struggle.

'We've got the guy that tried to shut the engines down out of the cockpit and he doesn't sound like he's causing any issue in the back right now, I think he's subdued,' a pilot told air traffic controllers, according to audio recorded by Live ATC.

'We want law enforcement as soon as we get on the ground and parked.'

Emerson was arrested by Port of Portland officials, and he is described in his booking sheet as a 6 foot 1 44-year-old bald white man with blue eyes, weighing 210lbs.
Pilots divert jet in Portland after person tried to shut down engines
 

I just saw a news report about an Alaska airlines plane that came within 250 ft of another plane while executing a turn around. This must be the same one. They pointed out that 500 ft is considered a near miss.

Thank God he was subdued and the passengers are safe. What a world we live in!
 
Every now and then, we see a crackpot in the cockpit. Depending on the altitude, the plane may have had time to restart the engines.
 
In a way, it's good that it happened on that flight because the latest report I saw said he was on his way to the other airport where he was due to pilot a another plane. Imagine if he piloted that flight ! it may have turned into a tragic event.
 
An Alaska Airlines pilot has appeared in court on 83 counts of attempted murder after allegedly trying to shut down a plane's engine 'while high on magic mushrooms'.

Joseph Emerson, 44, was off-duty and sitting in the jump seat in the cockpit of a Horizon Air plane from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco on Sunday when he allegedly tried to shut off the engines' fuel supply.

Emerson, who is being held without bail at Multnomah County Jail, was arraigned this afternoon in an Oregon court following the incident over the weekend.

During the short hearing, Emerson appeared before the court in a blue prison jumpsuit with a pink t-shirt underneath.

Emerson did not address the court directly but did speak to his attorney from behind a partition. He pleaded not guilty to all 83 counts of attempted murder through his lawyer.

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According to a federal affidavit, Emerson of Pleasant Hill, East California said 'I'm not okay' before reaching up to grab two red fire handles which would have cut the plane's engines, and he later told federal officials: 'Yah …I pulled both emergency shut off handles because I thought I was dreaming and I just wanna wake up.'

The affidavit also states Emerson reported becoming depressed around six months ago, and said it was his first time taking psychedelic mushrooms.

The plane made an emergency landing in Oregon where Emerson was arrested.

In a statement from the District of Oregon Department of Justice, they said: 'Emerson attempted to grab and pull two red fire handles that would have activated the plane’s emergency fire suppression system and cut off fuel to its engines.

'After a brief physical struggle with the pilots, Emerson exited the cockpit,' said a statement from the District of Oregon Department of Justice.

Emerson had been casually speaking to the plane's two pilots about the weather and the fact he'd been an employee there for ten years when he suddenly threw his headset across the cockpit and announced 'I am not okay', court documents state.

After reaching for the two red levers, one of the pilots 'wrestled' him off before declaring an in-flight emergency and telling flight attendants Emerson was 'losing it'. They then turned off autopilot and changed course for Portland, the affidavit states

Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson pleads not guilty in court
 
WhatInThe said:
His excuse is he took magic mushrooms 48 hours prior. The druggies are commenting psychodelic drug highs only last about 8 hours but the effects last a few days what ever that means. Many drugs allow the druggie to act on impulse ie the thoughts & emotions are already in their head. He was suicidal no matter how he trys to rationalize it.

Alaska Air pilot in aborted flight said he used 'magic' mushrooms, documents show.
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even if the effects did last only 8 hours.. what is he playing at taking drugs a day or even 2 days before flying ?... in fact why aren't they routinely drug tested before they even enter the cockpit of a plane.. just beggars belief.. and absolutely terrifying for all of us... because I doubt he's alone in doing this..
 
hollydolly said:
even if the effects did last only 8 hours.. what is he playing at taking drugs a day or even 2 days before flying ?... in fact why aren't they routinely drug tested before they even enter the cockpit of a plane.. just beggars belief.. and absolutely terrifying for all of us... because I doubt he's alone in doing this..
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Sadly no. Drinking pilots already a known issue. A pilot just got caught snorting cocaine shortly before a flight.

Married pilot snorts cocaine off topless woman in booze-fueled romp before flight: report

The fact that he's doing hard illegal drugs says something right there regardless. If he's willing to risk his career and the lives of others that's an indicator of his character.

Problem with airlines and other industries and jobs is that they is frequently no management or supervision around to callout a pilot who looks high other than civilians, security etc. I think most pilots can in off the street and can go right to the plane if they want unless they have to punch a clock.
 
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Sounds scary, hope the passengers were in blissful ignorance. I didn't know mushrooms would have an effect two days later, our brains are so complex and unpredictable. Thank goodness he threw his headset and announced that he wasn't okay before he tried to mess with the controls.

From some of the airplane disaster YouTube's I've watched, I'd think they would have been able to restart the engines and maybe even land without them? At least in the youtube videos there are pilots that can pull off amazing recoveries.
 
As our human Earth over population continues to increase during this knee of technology and science, I suspect it will continue to create increasing numbers of those with suicidal intentions. And small numbers of those suicidal nobodies with emotionally twisted ideas that hate what their life has become, will strike out inflicting pain indiscriminately against the rest of indefensible society as their last desperate act. Proliferation of modern lethal weapons within societies where individuals need such for protection makes it another seemingly intractable issue.

Will be interesting to read a report on his blood tests. Suspect the drug use claim was just a false excuse he blurted out after his plan failed and he was put into custody.
 
HoneyNut said:
I didn't know mushrooms would have an effect two days later, our brains are so complex and unpredictable.
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I think David777's guess may be right, that this guy might have just tried the mushroom ingestion as a 'false excuse'. I'm dismayed by what that guy said, because it may contribute to tarnishing psilocybin's public reputation. I know people who have benefitted from it as therapy, an ever-increasing amount of which is going on under supervision in legit clinics.
 

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