SAN FRANCISCO — An off-duty pilot accused of attempting to shut down the engines on an Alaska Airlines flight to San Francisco told investigators he had taken psychedelic mushrooms for the first time, had not slept in nearly two days, and believed he was having a "nervous breakdown" according to a criminal complaint filed federal court Tuesday.
Joseph Emerson, 44, of Pleasant Hill, was arrested Sunday after the incident aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 2059, a Horizon Air operated flight bound for San Francisco from Everett, Washington. Investigators allege Emerson was riding in a jump seat on the flight deck when he reached up and pulled two fire suppression handles that could have cut power to the aircraft's engines.
In the complaint released Tuesday, one pilot told investigators that Emerson failed to pull the handles down all the way, averting what may have been a tragedy.
"If Emerson had successfully pulled the red engine shutoff handles down all the way, then it would have shut down the hydraulics and fuel to the engines, turning the aircraft into a glider within seconds," the complaint reads. "[A pilot] stated that Emerson's actions interfered with their ability to operate the aircraft."
According to Alaska Airlines, the pilots worked quickly to reverse the handles and subdue Emerson, securing him in the rear of the plane with help from the flight crew. The flight diverted to Portland where Emerson was arrested and booked on suspicion of 83 counts of attempted murder and reckless endangerment.
According to the complaint, Emerson denied taking any medication but spoke with an officer about psychedelic mushrooms and said it was his first time taking them. Investigators said Emerson told them he had been depressed for six months, had not slept for 40 hours, and pulled the emergency handles because he thought he was dreaming and wanted to wake up.
The pilots told investigators Emerson had spoken casually with them earlier in the flight and "there was zero indication of anything wrong" before he sat up in his seat and declared "I'm not okay," reaching for the red handles. According to airline officials, Emerson was removed from the cockpit and handcuffed to a seat in the rear of the plane, where he later tried to grab an emergency exit handle and was stopped by a flight attendant.
Airline officials reiterated Tuesday that nothing had seemed amiss in the leadup to the incident.
"Following well-established, FAA-mandated practices to authorize a jump-seat passenger, our Gate Agent confirmed that Emerson was an off-duty pilot for Alaska Airlines," the airline wrote in a blog post. "He was approved to join the flight as a passenger and was seated in the flight deck jump seat. All Gate Agents and Flight Attendants are trained to identify signs and symptoms of impairment. At no time during the check-in or boarding process did our Gate Agents or flight crew observe any signs of impairment that would have led them to prevent Emerson from flying on Flight 2059."
In federal court Tuesday, prosecutors filed one charge related to interfering with a flight crew. According to The New York Times, Emerson was also due to be arraigned separately on dozens of charges related to attempted murder, reckless endangerment, and endangering an aircraft at the Multnomah County Circuit Court in Portland.
Alaska Airlines said Emerson was "removed from service indefinitely and relieved from all duties" pending consultation with the union regarding his employment status. Emerson was hired as a Horizon First Officer in August 2001, joined Virgin America as a pilot in 2012 and returned to Alaska Airlines as a captain in 2019.
The airline's leadership commended the flight crew for leaping into action and keeping their passengers safe.
"We are deeply proud of our Horizon flight crew and their quick actions both in the flight deck and in the rear of the aircraft," the statement reads in part. "Working together, consistent with their training, they performed their critical roles exceptionally well, representing the best of their profession."
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