A former Alaska Airlines pilot, Joseph Emerson, who attempted to shut off a passenger plane’s engines mid-flight, will not serve additional prison time, a federal court has ruled. Judge Amy Baggio sentenced Emerson to credit for time served and three years of supervised release during a hearing in Portland, Oregon. Emerson, who was off-duty during the October 2023 flight, attributed his actions to a mental breakdown induced by hallucinogenic mushrooms. He had previously pleaded guilty to a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew and no contest to state charges of endangering an aircraft and 83 counts of endangering another person. For the state charges, he received five years of probation and 50 days in jail. The federal deal spared him a potential 20-year prison sentence. Emerson expressed remorse for his actions, stating, ‘I’m not a victim. I am here as a direct result of my actions.’ He also mentioned that the incident has prompted personal growth. The flight, which was en route from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, California, with 80 passengers aboard, was diverted to Portland, Oregon. The incident lasted about 90 seconds, during which Emerson had to be subdued by the pilot. After being restrained, Emerson warned flight attendants to cuff him immediately and attempted to reach for the emergency exit handle during descent. Emerson, who lost his pilot’s license post-arrest, is now working part-time as a pressure washer and has paid $60,000 in restitution. He is also pursuing a career as a substance abuse counselor and, along with his wife, has founded the group Clear Skies Ahead to address mental health issues among pilots.
Off-duty US pilot who tried to crash plane midair will not serve prison time
