Off-duty Pilot Charged With 83 Counts Of Attempted Murder For Trying To Shut Down Plane Engines Mid-flight

The safety and comfort of many passengers on a flight rely heavily on the skills, dedication, and professionalism of the pilots in command. Yet, what occurs when the actions of a single individual endanger the lives of everyone on board, including co-pilots, crew members, and passengers?

What happened on a flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco?

During a US commercial flight, an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot occupying a cockpit jump seat found themselves facing attempted murder charges.

The alarming incident unfolded aboard a Horizon Air Embraer E-175 en route from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, as reported by Alaska Airlines, the parent company of Horizon.

The accused pilot's attempt to shut down the plane's engines mid-flight has raised serious concerns and prompted legal action.

With 80 passengers onboard, the aircraft was redirected to Portland, Oregon, and landed safely.

What did the airlines say?

According to Alaska Airlines, the pilots of Horizon Air reported a "credible security threat related to an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who was traveling in the flight deck jump seat."

"The jump seat occupant unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt the operation of the engines," it said. "The Horizon Captain and First Officer quickly responded; engine power was not lost, and the crew secured the aircraft without incident."

The Multnomah County Sheriff's Office in Portland has charged a 44-year-old man named Joseph Emerson, but the airline did not identify the off-duty pilot.

He faces 83 counts of attempted murder, reckless endangerment, and endangering an aircraft.

A Live ATC website that records conversations between pilots and air traffic controllers shared an audio recording where the Horizon Air pilot talked to air traffic control about the incident.

Unsplash/Representative Image

"We've got the guy that tried to shut the engines down out of the cockpit," the Horizon Air pilot said. "And he doesn't sound like he's causing any issues in the back right now. "I think he's subdued. Other than that, yeah, we want law enforcement as soon as we get on the ground and parked," the pilot said.

In March 2015, a tragic incident occurred when one of its pilots intentionally crashed a Germanwings plane flying from Barcelona to Dusseldorf, resulting in the devastating loss of all 144 passengers and six crew members on board.

(With agency inputs)

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