An off-duty pilot had a mental breakdown on an Alaska Airlines flight and attempted to shut off the plane’s engines. 44-year-old Joseph David Emerson was sitting inside the cockpit of the fight that took off from Everett, Washington. The flight was headed to San Francisco. Since the pilot was sitting in the “jump seat”, he was most likely getting a ride back home. Out of nowhere, Emerson lunged for the controls and attempted to trigger a system that would have shut down the plane’s engines. The controls in question were directly above the jump seat, so Emerson had better access to them than the pilots flying the plane. Emerson was successfully subdued by the pilot, co-pilot, and possibly the crew. The plane made an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon due to the outburst. There were no reported injuries. Emerson has been charged with 83 counts of attempted murder.
SOURCES:
Off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot said he took ‘magic mushrooms’ 48 hours before allegedly trying to shut down plane engines
Off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson said he took ‘magic mushrooms’ 48 hours before allegedly trying to shut off plane’s engines, court documents say | CNN
Pilot who allegedly tried to shut off engines hadn’t slept in 40 hours: Authorities – ABC News
Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to stop engines took mushrooms, police say – The Washington Post
Court docs: Off-duty pilot who tried to shut off engines took psychedelic mushrooms | KATU
