Off-Duty Pilot Uttered ‘I Am Unwell’ Prior to Attempt to Disable Engines Mid-Flight, Legal Papers Reveal

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An off-duty pilot occupying an auxiliary cockpit seat aboard a Horizon Air flight stated, “I am unwell,” moments before making an effort to disable the plane’s engines. Subsequently, he informed the police that he had been battling depression, as revealed in legal documents disclosed on Tuesday.

Oregon state prosecutors leveled 83 counts of attempted homicide against Joseph David Emerson, a 44-year-old pilot for Alaska Airlines, right before his court appearance on Tuesday. His legal representative, Noah Horst, entered not-guilty pleas on Emerson’s behalf. Concurrently, federal prosecutors accused Emerson of interference with flight crew members, an offense that can result in a maximum sentence of 20 years’ imprisonment.

Based on a statement of probable cause filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, Emerson confessed to Port of Portland law enforcement following his arrest that he had been grappling with depression. He also disclosed that a friend had recently passed away and that he had consumed psychedelic mushrooms approximately 48 hours prior to his attempt to disable the aircraft’s engines. Additionally, Emerson stated that he had been awake for over 40 hours, as per the legal document.

Although police indicated that Emerson did not seem inebriated during questioning, Alaska Airlines, the parent company of Horizon, announced that neither gate agents nor the flight crew had detected any signs of impairment that would have disqualified him from being on the flight. An affidavit from an FBI agent, supporting the federal charge, revealed that Emerson had said this was his initial experience with psychedelic mushrooms.

While psilocybin is generally illegal across the United States, Oregon recently legalized it for adult use. Furthermore, in 2018, the Food and Drug Administration labeled it a “breakthrough therapy,” suggesting potential applications in treating mental health disorders or substance abuse issues.

Arrested on Sunday night, Emerson came under scrutiny after the flight crew reported his attempt to shut off the engines on a Horizon Air flight traveling from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco. The aircraft was subsequently rerouted to Portland, successfully landing with over 80 passengers onboard.

According to the FBI’s affidavit, Emerson was authorized to occupy the cockpit’s jump seat as an off-duty pilot. During the flight, between Astoria, Oregon, and Portland, he engaged the captain and first officer in casual conversation before attempting to seize two red handles that would have triggered the plane’s fire suppression system and severed its fuel supply.

Following a brief altercation, lasting around 30 seconds, Emerson exited the cockpit, as reported by the FBI. Flight attendants then restrained Emerson’s wrists and relocated him to the rear of the plane. However, as the plane began its descent, he made an attempt to access the emergency exit handle, which was thwarted by a flight attendant.

Alaska Airlines confirmed on Tuesday that Emerson had been relieved of all duties.

Noah Horst, his attorney, did not immediately engage with the media following the court appearance nor did he respond to queries via phone or email.

The captain and the first officer conveyed to the police after the safe landing that Emerson had declared “I am unwell” just prior to his attempt to engage the engine-cutting handles. They managed to prevent him from completing the action, according to the affidavit.

After being instructed to exit the cockpit, Emerson calmly walked to the rear of the aircraft and told a flight attendant, “I need to be cuffed immediately or the situation will worsen,” the affidavit noted. Another flight attendant heard him say, “I’ve ruined everything,” and “attempted to endanger everyone.”

In a subsequent conversation with the police, Emerson expressed a willingness to forgo legal representation, stating, “I admit to my actions. I will not contest any charges you wish to levy against me.”

He also mentioned that he believed he was undergoing a nervous breakdown, saying, “I engaged both emergency shut-off mechanisms because I thought I was in a dream and I wanted to awaken,” as cited in the affidavit.

Mandatory psychological assessments are a part of pilots’ routine medical examinations. There have been incidents of crashes attributed to pilots’ deliberate actions, such as the Germanwings flight that crashed in the French Alps in 2015.

Federal Aviation Administration records indicate that Emerson last underwent a medical examination in September. However, according to the legal documents, he had been battling depression for an extended period.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office announced that Emerson would remain in state custody until his preliminary appearance in the U.S. District Court in Portland.

Mark Angelos, a senior flight instructor at NRI Flying Club in Concord, California, who has known Emerson for over a decade, expressed disbelief at the charges. Emerson, a former president of the club responsible for its safety program, was viewed by Angelos and other club members as a devoted family man.

Angelos stated, “The person accused simply cannot be the Joe we know.”

The report is by Johnson, based in Seattle.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Off-duty pilot attempted homicide

More about Off-duty pilot attempted homicide

• Alaska Airlines Official Statement
• Multnomah County Circuit Court Records
• Federal Aviation Administration Regulations
• FBI Affidavit on Emerson’s Case
• Food and Drug Administration on Psilocybin
• 2015 Germanwings Flight Crash Report
• NRI Flying Club Official Website
• Oregon State Legalization of Psilocybin
• U.S. Attorney’s Office Statement