Former Alaska Airlines Pilot Pleads Guilty After Attempt to Disable Engines While Using Psychedelic Mushrooms

A former Alaska Airlines pilot pleaded guilty or no contest Friday after prosecutors said he attempted to disable the engines of a passenger flight in October 2023 while off duty and under the influence of psychedelic mushrooms.

Joseph Emerson, who prosecutors say was riding in the cockpit of a Horizon Air flight carrying more than 80 people, was restrained by members of the flight crew after pulling handles that could have cut fuel to the engines. The Everett, Washington, to San Francisco flight diverted to Portland and landed safely, authorities said.

Emerson reached plea agreements with state and federal prosecutors, his attorney, Noah Horst, told news outlets, saying the arrangements would take accountability while avoiding additional jail time. "What Joseph Emerson did was reckless, selfish, and criminal," Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Eric Pickard said in a statement Friday.

Prosecutors and court filings say Emerson had taken psychedelic mushrooms before the flight and that his actions in the cockpit prompted an immediate physical intervention by the crew. Flight crew members restrained him and took measures to secure the aircraft. Officials have said there were no injuries and the aircraft landed without incident.

The actions prompted concurrent inquiries by state and federal authorities into criminal conduct aboard the commercial flight. Court records show Emerson pleaded guilty or no contest to the charges Friday; his attorney described the pleas as part of negotiated resolutions with prosecutors. Emerson also expressed regret, saying he understood he had endangered passengers and harmed his profession.

Psychedelic mushrooms contain psilocybin, a compound that can produce hallucinations, altered perceptions and impaired judgment. Medical researchers and federal regulators have studied psilocybin for potential therapeutic uses, but health experts say acute intoxication can impair coordination, decision-making and the ability to perform safety-sensitive tasks.

Aviation regulators and carriers maintain strict rules prohibiting impairment by drugs or alcohol for anyone in safety-critical positions. The incident renewed questions about cockpit access and procedures for off-duty crew seating, as well as screening and reporting mechanisms for suspected impairment. Airlines and federal regulators did not immediately release new policy changes tied to the case.

Horizon Air operates regional flights for Alaska Airlines; neither airline immediately issued a detailed public comment on the plea Friday. Federal and local prosecutors have said the negotiated pleas resolve the pending criminal counts but did not provide immediate details about any civil or administrative actions Emerson might face, including potential revocation of pilot certifications.

The October 2023 diversion and subsequent legal proceedings drew broad attention because of the potential risk to passengers and the unusual circumstance of an off-duty crew member interfering with cockpit controls. Prosecutors characterized Emerson’s conduct as criminal and dangerous, while defense counsel framed the pleas as a step toward accountability and resolution.

Under the plea agreements, further jail time beyond the terms already negotiated is not expected, Horst said. The case remains a notable example of how illicit drug use and impairment can intersect with public safety and health concerns in transportation settings.