Who: Joseph Emerson, a 46-year-old former Alaska Airlines pilot. When: Pleaded guilty on Sept. 5, 2025; incident occurred Oct. 22, 2023. Where: On a Horizon Air passenger flight from Everett, Washington, bound for San Francisco, diverted to Portland, Oregon. What happened: Emerson admitted he reached for and partially pulled the dual engine fire-extinguishing/shutoff handles from a cockpit jump seat while off-duty, causing an in-flight emergency. Result: Flight crew overpowered him, the engines were not shut down, the plane landed safely, and Emerson pleaded guilty in federal court to interference with flight crew members and attendants.
Key Takeaways
- Joseph Emerson pleaded guilty in federal court on Sept. 5, 2025, in connection with an Oct. 22, 2023 flight incident.
- The attempt involved pulling dual engine fire-extinguishing/shutoff handles from a jump seat; the handles were not fully actuated and engines stayed running.
- Flight crew physically restrained Emerson and safely landed the aircraft after diverting to Portland, Oregon.
- Federal plea: interference with flight crew members and attendants; sentencing set for Nov. 17, 2025, with a statutory maximum of 20 years and up to $250,000 in fines.
- State case: Emerson faces state charges including 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of endangering an aircraft in the first degree.
- Emerson told investigators he had taken psilocybin two days before the flight and was experiencing lingering effects and sleep deprivation.
- He and his wife later founded a nonprofit, Clear Skies Ahead, to raise awareness about pilot mental health.
Verified Facts
Federal court records show Emerson pleaded guilty to interference with flight crew members and attendants on Sept. 5, 2025. The plea resolves federal charges arising from the October 22, 2023, flight during which Emerson, an off-duty pilot aboard a Horizon Air-operated flight, reached for two red handles in the cockpit that could have shut down both engines.
The pilot-in-command and other crew members intervened. According to the plea agreement, one of the flight crew grabbed Emerson’s wrist and a brief physical struggle ensued. Investigators found the red handles were not fully pulled and the engines were not shut down; the aircraft landed in Portland without engine failure or loss of control.
State prosecutors in Multnomah County initially considered more serious attempted murder charges but a grand jury later indicted Emerson on 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person (misdemeanors) and one count of endangering aircraft in the first degree (a felony). Emerson has separate plea proceedings scheduled on those state charges.
In a court filing tied to his federal plea, Emerson said he had used psilocybin two days before the flight and was still experiencing aftereffects. He told authorities he had not slept for approximately 48 hours before boarding and reported feeling detached from reality during the flight; he told a crew member, “I am not okay.” He was arrested after the diversion to Portland and described himself as being “in crisis” to police.
Context & Impact
The case prompted renewed attention to airline safety procedures, cockpit security, and crew training for in-flight disruptions. Aviation regulators and carriers maintain protocols to prevent unauthorized cockpit interference and to respond when an individual threatens aircraft systems.
Legal outcomes remain pending: federal sentencing is set for Nov. 17, 2025, and state proceedings continue. If sentenced to the statutory maximum in the federal case, Emerson could face up to 20 years in prison and significant fines, though typical sentencing will consider the plea, his cooperation, prior record, and mitigating factors raised by defense and medical evidence.
The incident also triggered discussion about pilot mental health and substance use. Emerson and his wife launched Clear Skies Ahead, a nonprofit aimed at funding and promoting support for pilots’ mental-health issues — an initiative the couple says stems from their experience after the event.
Official Statements
“I was still suffering from the aftereffects of this drug,” Emerson wrote in his plea filing, explaining his state of mind during the flight.
Plea filing / Joseph Emerson
Unconfirmed
- Whether Emerson received a formal, documented diagnosis of HPPD beyond an account given by a jail physician.
- The extent to which sleep deprivation, prior grief over a friend’s death, or other medical conditions contributed to Emerson’s state at the time of the incident.
- Any final plea terms or sentencing discounts that may be negotiated before the Nov. 17, 2025 federal sentencing hearing.
Bottom Line
Joseph Emerson admitted in federal court that he reached for engine shutoff-related handles while off-duty on Oct. 22, 2023, and has pleaded guilty to interfering with flight crew. The aircraft landed safely due to crew intervention; Emerson faces significant federal and state penalties, and his case has intensified focus on flightdeck security and pilot mental-health supports.