Off-duty Bay Area pilot who used psychedelic mushrooms won't see additional prison time in attempted crash of flight

"Emerson was subdued by the flight crew after trying to cut the engines of a Horizon Air flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco on Oct. 22, 2023, while he was riding in an extra seat in the cockpit. The plane was diverted to Portland, where it landed safely with more than 80 people on board. After his arrest, Emerson told police he was despondent over a friend's recent death, had taken psychedelic mushrooms about two days earlier, and hadn't slept in over 40 hours."

"By Claire Rush | Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. A former Alaska Airlines pilot who tried to cut the engines of a passenger flight in 2023 while riding off-duty in the cockpit will serve no additional prison time, a federal judge ruled Monday. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Baggio sentenced Emerson to time served and supervised release for three years a hearing in Portland, Oregon. Federal prosecutors had asked for one year in prison, while his attorneys had sought probation."

"He has said he believed he was dreaming at the time and that he was trying to wake himself up by grabbing two red handles that would have activated the plane's fire suppression system and cut off fuel to its engines. Emerson, of Pleasant Hill, California, was charged in federal court with interfering with a flight crew. A state indictment in Oregon separately charged him with 83 counts of endangering another person and one count of endangering an aircraft."

Joseph Emerson, a former Alaska Airlines pilot, attempted to cut the engines of a Horizon Air flight on Oct. 22, 2023, while riding off-duty in an extra cockpit seat. The flight crew subdued him and the plane was diverted to Portland, where it landed safely with more than 80 people aboard. Emerson told police he had been despondent over a friend's recent death, had taken psychedelic mushrooms about two days earlier, and had not slept in over 40 hours; he said he believed he was dreaming and grabbed red handles intended for fire suppression. He pleaded guilty or no-contest to state and federal charges and was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release, with prior release conditions requiring mental health services, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and avoiding aircraft.

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