No prison term for pilot on drugs who almost killed over 80 people.
We have reported on TGP about the insane story of the off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who took magic mushrooms and tried to switch-off engines of the Everett, Washington, to San Francisco flight.
It was October 22, 2023, when Joseph David Emerson was riding in the cockpit of a passenger plane when he suddenly tried to activate the plane’s fire suppression system and cut off fuel to its engines.
But yesterday (17), a judge has ruled that the former pilot, who pled guilty, will serve no time in prison.
NEW: Ex-Alaska Airlines pilot who forced emergency landing while high on mushrooms pleads guilty in federal and state court
Joseph Emerson was riding in an extra cockpit seat when he grabbed two red handles
These handles would have activated the plane’s fire suppression system… pic.twitter.com/am6s8ddZQL
— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) September 6, 2025
The Telegraph reported:
“He was restrained and subdued by the flight crew and the plane was diverted to Portland, Oregon where it landed safely with more than 80 people on board.
Emerson told police at the time that he was grieving the death of a close friend, had taken psychedelic mushrooms two days earlier and had not slept in more than 40 hours.”
U.S. District Court Judge Amy Baggio: “Pilots are not perfect. They are human,” she said. “They are people and all people need help sometimes.”
A former Alaska Airlines pilot who tried to cut the engines mid-air of a commercial flight in 2023 while riding off-duty in the cockpit… pic.twitter.com/4AuxARw8JD
— FL360aero (@fl360aero) November 17, 2025
You read it right: 83 counts of attempted murder, but no prison time for Emerson who claimed that he was ‘dreaming’.
“US District Court Judge Amy Baggio on Monday sentenced Emerson to credit for time served and supervised release for three years at a hearing in Portland. Federal prosecutors had asked for one year in prison, while his lawyers had sought probation.
‘Pilots are not perfect. They are human’, Ms. Baggio said. ‘They are people, and all people need help sometimes’.”
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