Emerson allegedly attempted to shut down the plane's engines mid-flight on a Horizon Air flight from Everett, Washington to San Francisco in October.
Emerson attempted to open an emergency exit door while in handcuffs.
Emerson claimed that he thought he was dreaming and was trying to wake up, and had been struggling with depression and had taken psychedelic mushrooms.
Emerson was seen throwing his headset and grabbing the plane's engine shut-off handles, and also tried to activate the plane's emergency fire suppression system.
Joseph David Emerson, an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot, has been indicted on 84 charges, including one count of endangering an aircraft and 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person.
Joseph David Emerson, an off-duty pilot for Alaska Airlines, has been indicted on 84 charges, including one count of endangering an aircraft and 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person. The charges stem from an incident that occurred on a Horizon Air flight from Everett, Washington to San Francisco in October. Emerson allegedly attempted to shut down the plane's engines mid-flight, an action that could have had catastrophic consequences.
Emerson was seen throwing his headset and grabbing the plane's engine shut-off handles. He also allegedly tried to activate the plane's emergency fire suppression system, which would have cut off fuel to the engines. In addition to these actions, Emerson attempted to open an emergency exit door while in handcuffs.
Emerson, who resides in Pleasant Hill, California, claimed that he thought he was dreaming and was trying to wake up. He had been struggling with depression and had taken psychedelic mushrooms. His attorneys argue that he had no criminal intent. The incident has prompted calls for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to reexamine the system for evaluating pilot mental health.