Judicial documents published yesterday revealed that the American who tried to shut down the engines of an Alaska Airlines plane in the middle of a flight was under the influence of hallucinogenic substances, and was suspended from his duties for an indefinite period.
During the flight, the pilot and co-pilot had to fight with pilot Joseph Emerson, who was off duty but sitting on the jump seat in the cockpit, to prevent him from controlling the handles when he tried to disable the fuel device used to start the engines.
“I pulled the emergency stop handles because I thought I was dreaming and I wanted to wake up,” the 44-year-old confirmed to law enforcement, according to the criminal complaint.
Emerson, who told police he had been sleepless for 40 straight hours before the flight, tried to open the emergency exit at the back of the plane, and the cabin crew had to restrain him during the emergency landing.
Emerson also told police that he had taken hallucinogenic mushrooms for the first time before the incident.
Alaska Airlines said in a statement that the Embraer E-175 plane belonging to Horizon Air (a subsidiary of Alaska Airlines) was on its way from Everett, Washington state, to San Francisco when the accident occurred.
The plane, which was carrying 80 passengers, was diverted to Portland, Oregon, where it landed safely.
Emerson was arrested and charged with attempted murder, endangering the lives of others, and endangering an aircraft. He also faces a federal charge of interfering with the flight crew.
The accused pleaded not guilty when he appeared before a judge in Portland, according to American media.
Live ATC, a website that archives conversations between pilots and air traffic controllers, published an audio recording of the Horizon Air pilot narrating the incident.
“We removed the man who tried to disable the engines from the cockpit,” he said.
“I think it is under control,” he added. “Apart from that, yes, the police should be there as soon as we arrive.”