Former Pilot Pleads Guilty After Attempting to Shut Off Engines Midflight Following Mushroom Use

Joseph David Emerson, a former pilot, pleaded guilty in federal court on Friday to charges arising from an incident in October 2023 in which he attempted to shut off the engines of a passenger jet while riding off-duty in the cockpit.

Court documents say Emerson told the active pilots, "I am not okay," before trying to cut the engines aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 2059. The flight, travelling from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, California, was diverted to Portland, Oregon. Prosecutors say the incident lasted about 90 seconds and that one pilot wrestled Emerson until he stopped resisting and was removed from the flight. The aircraft carried about 80 passengers; Multnomah County prosecutors described the number aboard as 84 people.

Emerson told investigators he had taken psychedelic mushrooms and had been struggling with depression, according to the criminal complaint. In state court in Oregon he pleaded no-contest to reckless endangerment and first-degree endangering an aircraft and was sentenced to 50 days in jail, which he has already served, five years of probation, 664 hours of community service and $60,659 in restitution. Federal court documents say Emerson pleaded guilty in the federal case; under his plea agreement prosecutors may recommend a one-year prison sentence while his attorneys are expected to argue for no additional jail time. Sentencing in the federal case is scheduled for Nov. 17.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Eric Pickard criticized Emerson's conduct in court, saying, "What Joseph Emerson did was reckless, selfish, and criminal. We should remember how close he came to ruining the lives of not just the 84 people aboard Flight 2059, but all of their family members and friends as well." Flight attendants later told investigators that Emerson said, "I messed everything up" and that he "tried to kill everybody." The complaint also states that after being subdued Emerson told crew members, "You need to cuff me right now or it's going to be bad," and that he later tried to reach for an emergency exit handle during the plane's descent.

In court, Emerson acknowledged he had been unable to perceive reality after taking the mushrooms but said, "that doesn't make this right." He told the judge the episode prompted personal changes, saying it had made him a better father and husband and that he had previously used alcohol to cope with life. As part of his sentencing, Emerson must undergo assessment for drug and alcohol use, refrain from using non-prescribed drugs, and remain at least 25 feet away from operable jets unless given permission by his probation officer. He may perform half of his community service hours at Clear Skies Ahead, a nonprofit for pilot health that he and his wife founded after his arrest.

The case highlights concerns about substance use and mental health in transportation professions. Psychedelic mushrooms contain psilocybin, a substance that can produce hallucinations and altered perception, effects that can impair judgment and behavior. Regulators and industry officials have increasingly focused on screening, treatment and support programs for pilots and other transportation workers who report mental health struggles or substance use issues.

Federal and state authorities prosecuted the matter separately; the Oregon state case resulted in the jail time, probation and restitution already imposed. The federal plea resolves charges that carried potentially more serious penalties pending the court's final sentencing decision next month. Officials have said there was no physical injury to passengers or crew during the October diversion, and airline and law enforcement investigators continue to review protocols related to cockpit access and passenger conduct.

Emerson's lawyers have indicated they will argue against additional incarceration at the federal sentencing hearing, citing his acceptance of responsibility and the state penalties already imposed. Prosecutors may still seek up to a year in prison under the terms of the plea agreement.

The October incident and the forthcoming federal sentence come amid ongoing debates within aviation and mental health fields about how best to balance safety, treatment and rehabilitation for workers who seek help for depression or substance-related problems while holding safety-sensitive positions.