An off-duty pilot has been indicted on 83 counts of attempted murder for allegedly trying to crash a passenger jet during a flight on Sunday evening. The accused individual was seated in the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines flight, positioned behind the captain and the first officer, as per the airline’s statement.
The suspect in question has been identified as Joseph David Emerson, aged 44, according to a police booking document. The flight, which had 80 passengers on board, was en route from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, California. It was redirected to Portland, Oregon, where officials successfully restrained the suspect without incident.
In an official statement, Alaska Airlines revealed that the off-duty pilot was occupying the flight deck jump seat when he attempted, unsuccessfully, to disrupt the operation of the aircraft’s engines. Crew members aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 promptly reported the incident to air traffic control.
A recording of air traffic control communications captured one of the pilots saying, “We’ve got the individual who attempted to shut down the engines out of the cockpit, and he doesn’t appear to be causing any trouble in the back at the moment.” The pilot requested police presence upon landing.
Originally scheduled to depart at 17:25 local time and reach San Francisco at 19:30, the flight was ultimately diverted to Portland, taking off from there at 19:18 to reach its intended destination.
Passenger Aubrey Gavello recounted that those on board remained unaware of any issues with the flight until a flight attendant announced the need for an immediate landing, initially citing a medical emergency. According to Ms. Gavello, the flight attendant reassured the suspect, saying, “We’re going to be fine, it’s OK, we’ll get you off the plane.” She initially believed it was a severe medical emergency.
Another passenger informed the outlet that the situation was handled with professionalism, and passengers were not made aware of the crisis. In a statement, Alaska Airlines expressed gratitude for the Horizon flight crew’s professional handling of the situation and the calm and patience exhibited by the passengers throughout the incident.
The matter is currently under investigation by the Port of Portland Police Department and the FBI, as stated by Alaska Airlines. The FBI confirmed its ongoing investigation and assured the public that there is no ongoing threat related to this incident.
In addition to the charges of attempted murder, Mr. Emerson is facing 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft. He has been detained at the Multnomah County Detention Center while the investigation continues. Authorities have not specified when he will be arraigned.
On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration issued guidance to U.S. air carriers indicating that the incident was “not connected in any way, shape, or form to current world events.”
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