Former Alaska Pilot Reaches Plea Deals After Attempted In-Flight Sabotage Oregon

Joseph David Emerson, a former Alaska Airlines pilot, is set to plead guilty in federal court and no contest in state court to charges stemming from his attempt to shut off the engines of a Horizon Air flight in October 2023 while riding off-duty in the cockpit. The flight, carrying 84 people from San Francisco to Everett, Washington, was diverted to Portland where it landed safely after Emerson acted erratically, reportedly influenced by untreated depression and his first-time use of psychedelic mushrooms two days prior. Emerson faces a felony charge of interfering with flight crew members federally and multiple state charges including one felony and 83 misdemeanors for recklessly endangering others onboard. He has been released since December 2023 under conditions including mental health treatment and abstinence from drugs and alcohol and has founded a nonprofit focused on pilot mental health. The case has highlighted challenges pilots face in accessing mental health care due to fears of career repercussions, as Emerson reportedly avoided seeking help fearing financial and professional consequences. Under plea agreements, Emerson is expected to receive probation, perform community service, and pay restitution, with potential sentencing up to a year in prison federally, though his attorneys aim to avoid incarceration.