"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. 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."
"In the federal case, prosecutors have asked for a year in prison, while his attorneys have asked for probation. 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."
Joseph Emerson attempted to cut the engines of a Horizon Air passenger flight on Oct. 22, 2023, while riding off-duty in an extra cockpit seat. 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 was despondent over a friend's death, had taken psychedelic mushrooms about two days earlier, and had not slept for over 40 hours. He said he believed he was dreaming and tried to wake himself by grabbing red handles that would have cut fuel. He pleaded guilty to the federal count and no-contest to state charges. Prosecutors seek one year in prison, while defense seeks probation. He was released pending sentencing with mental-health, substance-use, and aircraft-restriction conditions.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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