Joseph Emerson, the former Alaska Airlines pilot accused of attempting to disable aircraft engines during an October 2023 flight, has reached plea agreements with state and federal prosecutors, his attorney confirmed Thursday.
Emerson faces change-of-plea hearings Friday in Oregon courts and is expected to plead guilty to federal charges and no-contest to state charges. Attorney Noah Horst declined to detail the agreements but said his client seeks to take responsibility whilst hoping to avoid additional jail time.
The incident occurred on October 22nd, 2023, when Emerson, riding off-duty in an extra cockpit seat, attempted to pull red handles that would have activated the fire suppression system and cut fuel to the engines of a Horizon Air flight from Everett to San Francisco. Flight crew subdued him before the plane diverted to Portland, landing safely with more than 80 people aboard.
Emerson told investigators he had consumed psychedelic mushrooms two days earlier, had not slept for over 40 hours, and was despondent over a friend’s death. He said he believed he was dreaming and thought pulling the handles would wake him up.
Federal prosecutors charged Emerson with interfering with a flight crew. Oregon filed 83 counts of endangering another person and one count of endangering an aircraft. He initially pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Emerson was released from custody in December 2023 under conditions requiring mental health treatment, drug and alcohol abstinence, and prohibition from aircraft access. He has since founded a nonprofit focused on pilot mental health.
The case has prompted renewed examination of cockpit safety protocols and mental health screening procedures for aviation personnel.
