A former Alaska Airlines pilot has been indicted on 83 misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and one felony count of first-degree endangering an aircraft after allegedly attempting to shut down a passenger jet's engines mid-flight in October. Joseph David Emerson, 44, told authorities he was under the influence of "magic mushrooms" at the time of the incident and struggled with depression and lack of sleep.
Emerson was initially taken into custody on attempted murder charges but had those reduced to lesser state counts by a grand jury. He is also facing a separate federal case for interfering with flight crew members and attendants. During the October 22 flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, Emerson allegedly tried to activate the plane's emergency fire suppression system, which would have cut off fuel to the engines.
The incident occurred when the plane was flying at approximately 31,000 feet with 80 passengers and four crew members on board. Emerson was removed from the cockpit by other pilots and taken into custody after being subdued. He has since been released on bail and is scheduled to be arraigned this week.
Emerson's attorneys claim he had a "nervous breakdown" and was trying to wake up from it, adding that his actions were an attempt to return home to his family. However, the prosecution maintains that Emerson's actions put everyone on board the plane at risk of serious harm or death.
Three passengers who were on the flight have since filed a lawsuit against Alaska Airlines, arguing that Emerson should never have been allowed in the cockpit due to his struggles with depression and lack of sleep.
Emerson was initially taken into custody on attempted murder charges but had those reduced to lesser state counts by a grand jury. He is also facing a separate federal case for interfering with flight crew members and attendants. During the October 22 flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, Emerson allegedly tried to activate the plane's emergency fire suppression system, which would have cut off fuel to the engines.
The incident occurred when the plane was flying at approximately 31,000 feet with 80 passengers and four crew members on board. Emerson was removed from the cockpit by other pilots and taken into custody after being subdued. He has since been released on bail and is scheduled to be arraigned this week.
Emerson's attorneys claim he had a "nervous breakdown" and was trying to wake up from it, adding that his actions were an attempt to return home to his family. However, the prosecution maintains that Emerson's actions put everyone on board the plane at risk of serious harm or death.
Three passengers who were on the flight have since filed a lawsuit against Alaska Airlines, arguing that Emerson should never have been allowed in the cockpit due to his struggles with depression and lack of sleep.
. I mean, can you even imagine what it's like to be on a plane with someone who's essentially losing their mind mid-flight? 
It's one thing when you see someone acting weird in public, but another entirely when they're responsible for the safety of 80 other people. The whole situation feels so... complicated 
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and now his lawyers are saying he had a nervous breakdown which kinda makes sense i guess but at the same time how do you not notice if someone is struggling with depression and lack of sleep? i mean isn't that like basic pilot training stuff 
i guess u can say it was a perfect storm. still, shouldn't ppl be held accountable for their actions when they're in a state like that?
. And the fact that three passengers are suing Alaska Airlines now... what if they had reported him sooner? Would things have been different? 
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this guy is insane if you ask me, I mean 83 misdemeanor counts? that's some crazy stuff. and you're saying he was under the influence of magic mushrooms at the time? come on, that's no excuse. but at the same time, can we really say that he didn't deserve a second chance? depression and lack of sleep are serious issues, I get it. but trying to shut down the engines in mid-air? that's not just reckless, that's just plain stupid.