Former pilot Joseph David Emerson pleaded guilty in federal court on 6 September 2025 after admitting he tried to disable the engines of Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 during a 22 October 2023 flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, forcing a diversion to Portland and triggering state and federal prosecutions.
Key takeaways
- Joseph David Emerson admitted in federal court to attempting to shut down engines aboard Flight 2059 on 22 October 2023.
- The incident led to a diversion to Portland, Oregon, and lasted roughly 90 seconds while crew subdued Emerson in the cockpit.
- He pleaded no-contest in Oregon state court, receiving a 50-day jail term already served, five years probation, 664 hours community service and about $60,659 in restitution.
- Prosecutors may recommend up to one year in federal prison; Emerson’s lawyers are expected to seek no additional jail time at federal sentencing on 17 November 2025.
- Emerson told investigators he had taken psychedelic mushrooms and was struggling with depression; he must undergo assessment and follow probation restrictions, including staying 25 feet from operable jets without permission.
Verified facts
The Federal plea record shows Emerson, riding off duty in the cockpit, told the flight crew he was not okay before attempting to cut engine power. Crew members say they wrestled with him until he was escorted out of the flight deck. Officials describe the physical struggle and the onboard disruption as lasting about 90 seconds.
Flight 2059 departed Everett, Washington, on 22 October 2023 en route to San Francisco with 80 passengers and was diverted to Portland. Some accounts refer to 84 people aboard, which aligns with the combined total of passengers and crew reported by investigators.
In Oregon state court Emerson entered no-contest pleas to reckless endangerment and first-degree endangering an aircraft. The state sentence included 50 days in custody (time already served), five years of probation, 664 hours of community service (allocated at eight hours per person endangered) and $60,659 in restitution.
Under his federal plea agreement prosecutors may seek a one-year prison term. Emerson has expressed remorse in court and told judges he had taken psychedelic mushrooms and struggled with alcohol and depression. Federal sentencing is scheduled for 17 November 2025.
Context & impact
The case has highlighted gaps in how off-duty crew members and medical or substance-use problems are managed, and it has prompted renewed attention to cockpit access, crew mental-health screening and post-incident protocols.
Alaska Airlines and regulators have said cockpit security procedures were followed: crew regained control and the aircraft landed safely in Portland with no physical injuries reported. The event has nonetheless renewed debate about screening and support systems for pilots experiencing mental-health crises.
As part of his state sentence Emerson may perform up to half of his community service at Clear Skies Ahead, a non-profit for pilot health he co-founded with his wife after the incident. Probation conditions require assessment for drug and alcohol use, abstention from non-prescribed substances and a restriction keeping him at least 25 feet away from operable jets unless cleared by his probation officer.
What Joseph Emerson did was reckless, selfish, and criminal
Eric Pickard, Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney
Unconfirmed
- Emerson’s claim that psychedelic mushrooms made him unable to perceive reality is his stated explanation; this account is part of his testimony and has not been independently verified by medical toxicology disclosed in court records.
- Longer-term effects of Emerson’s actions on airline policy or pilot mental-health screening remain to be determined and have not been publicly finalized.
Bottom line
The guilty plea resolves parallel state and federal cases arising from a 90-second cockpit disruption that could have had catastrophic consequences. Federal sentencing on 17 November 2025 will determine whether Emerson receives additional custodial time beyond his state sentence and probation conditions. The incident has already spurred scrutiny of crew health reporting and cockpit access safeguards.