The off-duty pilot who attempted to shut down engines during an Alaska Airlines flight was reportedly on ‘magic mushrooms,’ investigators said.
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Joseph Emerson appeared in an Oregon court and was arraigned Tuesday afternoon after pleading not guilty to 83 counts of attempted murder. According to Metro UK, the 44-year-old pilot told federal investigators that it was his first time taking mushrooms and felt like he was dreaming when he grabbed two fire handles that could’ve stopped the plane’s engines. ‘Yah… I pulled both emergency shut off handles because I thought I was dreaming and I just wanna wake up,’ Emerson said. The father of two also stated he felt like he was having a nervous breakdown.
During the flight, Emerson sat on a jump seat, a foldout chair behind the captain’s seat. Another pilot fought off Emerson when he tried to turn off the engine, and he reportedly told a flight attendant to handcuff him or “it’s going to be bad.”
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Witnesses also heard Emerson stating he tried to kill everyone on the flight and was handcuffed to the back of the aircraft.
Pulling a fire handle on the plane activates the engine fire extinguishing system and can discharge a fire retardant gas. The fuel supply to the engine is also shut off, and the engine is completely shut down. Additionally, the electrical power and hydraulic systems of the plane are also turned off. In some cases, the fire handle may also activate other fire suppression systems, such as the cargo hold fire suppression system or the cabin fire suppression system.
Pulling the fire handle is a last resort, as it will turn off the affected engine. However, acting quickly if an engine fire is detected is essential, as fires can spread rapidly in aircraft.
Neighbors of Emerson said he was a good pilot and a fantastic father. One neighbor, Karen Yee, was shocked by the news when speaking to The Daily Mail.
‘It is just really shocking, disturbing news,’ said next-door neighbor Karen Yee. ‘They are excellent neighbors. He is a fantastic father. He plays with the kids all the time. He’s very friendly. He’s just a great guy. He’s very understanding of other people. We have a son with special needs, and he’s very good to him. We just couldn’t imagine him doing anything to hurt someone.’
Emerson is held at the Multnomah County Jail with no bail.