Former Pilot Pleads Guilty After Attempting to Shut Off Engines Midflight While on Psychedelics

A former commercial pilot has pleaded guilty in federal court after attempting to shut off the engines of an Alaska Airlines jet while riding off-duty in the cockpit, court records show.

Joseph David Emerson told the plane’s active pilots "I am not okay" before reaching for controls and trying to cut the engines during the flight on Oct. 22, 2023, prosecutors said. The aircraft, operating as Flight 2059 from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, California, with 80 passengers and four crew aboard, was diverted to Portland, Oregon. One pilot told investigators he had to wrestle with Emerson until he stopped resisting; the entire incident lasted about 90 seconds.

Following the disturbance, Emerson was removed from the cockpit and subdued. According to court documents, he told flight attendants, "You need to cuff me right now or it's going to be bad," and later tried to reach for an emergency exit handle while the plane descended. Flight crew and attendants reported overhearing Emerson say, "I messed everything up," and that he "tried to kill everybody."

Emerson told police he had taken psychedelic mushrooms and had been struggling with depression, court filings state. In federal court on Friday he pleaded guilty; in a separate Oregon state proceeding he pleaded no contest to counts of reckless endangerment and first-degree endangering an aircraft. In state court he was sentenced to 50 days in jail, which he has already served, five years' probation, 664 hours of community service—calculated as eight hours for each person aboard—and $60,659 in restitution.

Under the federal plea agreement, prosecutors may recommend a one-year prison sentence, though Emerson’s attorneys are expected to argue against additional custody. His federal sentencing is scheduled for Nov. 17.

Multnomah County Deputy District Attorney Eric Pickard said Emerson's actions were "reckless, selfish, and criminal," and warned of how close the incident came to devastating the lives of the 84 people associated with the flight. Emerson, addressing the court, said he had been unable to perceive reality after taking the mushrooms but added, "that doesn't make this right." He also said the events had prompted changes in his life, saying he was "a better father, a better husband, a better member of my community." He referenced past alcohol use as a way of coping with life.

As part of his state sentencing conditions, Emerson may perform half of his required community service at Clear Skies Ahead, a nonprofit focused on pilot health that he and his wife founded after his arrest. Additional probation requirements include assessment for drug and alcohol use, a prohibition on using non-prescribed controlled substances, and a stipulation to stay at least 25 feet away from operable jets unless given permission by his probation officer, court records show.

The case has drawn attention to pilot mental health and drug use while off duty, amid broader industry scrutiny of fatigue, substance misuse and wellness programs for flight crews. Investigators and prosecutors said the rapid intervention by the flight crew and attendants prevented a larger catastrophe; the Federal Aviation Administration and local authorities were notified and reviewed the incident.

Federal and state prosecutors relied on crew statements, eyewitness accounts from passengers and flight attendants, and Emerson’s own admissions in building their cases. The criminal complaints detail the 90-second struggle in the cockpit and Emerson's subsequent statements to crew and law enforcement. CBS News and court filings were cited by news organizations reporting on the case.

Emerson’s lawyers are expected to present mitigation materials at the upcoming federal sentencing hearing, including his account of depression and substance use and evidence of community ties and rehabilitation efforts. Prosecutors will outline the risk posed by his conduct and the harm to passengers and crew. The federal court will determine any additional penalty after considering the plea agreement, the recommendations of both sides, and the statutory sentencing factors.

The Oct. 22 incident prompted immediate operational and safety reviews by Alaska Airlines and federal regulators. The airline and authorities have not publicly disclosed disciplinary or administrative actions beyond the criminal case, citing ongoing proceedings and privacy rules for personnel matters.

The plea in federal court represents a key legal resolution of a rare and alarming midflight security breach, while state penalties already imposed reflect acknowledgment of harm to passengers. Emerson remains subject to probation conditions and the pending federal sentence that will finalize the legal consequences of the incident.