<img src="https://sb.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&amp;c2=36750692&amp;cv=3.6.0&amp;cj=1"> What Happened With Alaska Airlines Pilot Joseph Emerson? His Murder Charges, Explained
Something went wrong. Try again, or if the problem persists.
Your details are incorrect, or aren't in our system yet. Please try again, or sign up if you're new here.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and of Service apply.
Create a GAMURS
By g up, you agree to our and of Service.
Something went wrong. Try again, or if the problem persists.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and of Service apply.
Choose a name
Choose a unique name using 3-30 alphanumeric characters.
Something went wrong. Try again, or if the problem persists.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and of Service apply.
Choose your preferences
Choose how we communicate with you, opt out at anytime.
Something went wrong. Try again, or if the problem persists.
Check your email
An confirmation link was sent to your email. Don't forget to check your spam!
Enter the email address you used when you ed and we'll send you instructions to reset your .
If you used Apple or Google to create your , this process will create a for your existing .
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google and of Service apply.
Reset instructions sent. If you have an with us, you will receive an email within a few minutes.
Something went wrong. Try again or if the problem persists.
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

What happened with Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson? His murder charges, explained

Emerson is facing 167 counts total for his actions on Oct. 22.

Quick thinking from a captain and first officer saved over 80 lives on a recent Alaska Airlines flight to San Fransisco from Washington State, after an off-duty pilot attempted to shut down the aircraft mid-flight.

Recommended Videos

Pilot Joseph Emerson was riding in the flight deck jump seat, when he attempted to stop Alaska Airlines Flight 2059. Emerson had been with Horizon Air, Virgin America, and Alaska Airlines since 2001 before becoming a captain in 2019 with Alaska Airlines. On Sunday, Oct. 22, he was merely riding along in the cockpit — not in charge of the Embraer 175 plane — and his mood seemed normal, until he made the choice that would change the course of his life and the lives of everyone on board forever.

Luckily, Emerson was prevented from gaining the controls by the captain and first officer on board, and after some back and forth, he was eventually taken to the back of the plane, then safely removed from the aircraft after an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon.

Emerson has been handed numerous criminal charges concerning the incident, and has already entered a plea. So what exactly did Emerson do to attempt to stop the flight, and what are the charges he is facing now? Let’s take a look.

Who is Joseph Emerson, and what are his charges?

Joseph Emerson is a 44-year-old pilot who is facing 167 criminal charges, 83 of which are felony counts of attempted murder, after the incident on Oct. 22. Emerson boarded the aircraft having reportedly taken “magic mushrooms” within 48 hours before the flight, but he did not appear “outwardly under the influence of intoxicants,” as reported by the affidavit now filed due to his actions on the flight.

Emerson is said to have engaged in “normal conversation” with the captain and first officer before lunging forward after telling the cockpit that he was “not okay” and attempting to pull two red “t-handles” that, had he been successful, would have shut down the aircraft. The captain and first officer wrestled Emerson away from the handles, thereby ensuring that the aircraft stayed in the air. It’s reported that the incident lasted about 90 seconds, after which Emerson was taken to the back of the aircraft until the plane could find a safe place to land.

Alaska Airlines provided a statement to CNN that explains how the captain and first officer were able to save the lives of those on the aircraft:

“The fire suppression system consists of a T-handle for each engine; when pulled, a valve in the wing closes to shut off fuel to the engine. After they are pulled, some residual fuel remains in the line.Our crew responded without hesitation to a difficult and highly unusual situation, and we are incredibly proud and grateful for their skillful actions.”

CBS notes that he was handcuffed for the duration of the flight, and ABC followed up by saying that Emerson himself said if he weren’t handcuffed, things would “get bad,” and that he also attempted to pull an emergency lever during the plane’s descent. Emerson would go on to tell officers that he’d been suffering from depression for the six months leading up to the incident, and had also recently experienced the loss of a friend. It’s also been stated that he believed he was dreaming when he attempted to pull the levers in a bid to “wake up.”

Court documents also say that Emerson states he “messed everything up” following the incident and the charges. He pleaded not guilty to all 167 charges against him, and he has been “removed from service indefinitely and relieved of all duties at Alaska Airlines,” as the company told ABC. The investigation around him continues to try to determine if the incident was something that dealt with drugs, mental health, a mix of both, or something else entirely.

We Got This Covered will keep you updated as we learn more, and we’re sending our thoughts to those on board the flight as they attempt to recover mentally from the turmoil.


We Got This Covered is ed by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small commission. Learn more about our Policy
Author
Image of Ashley Marie
Ashley Marie
Ashley Marie is a staff writer, beat leader, Disney fanatic, and Yellowstone expert. When she's not filling her friends in on all the entertainment news they can handle, she's drinking her go-to Starbucks order — a caramel macchiato, thank you — and wishing she was at Disney World or spending time at the Yellowstone Dutton Ranch. With a focus on positivity and kindness in journalism, Ashley has been writing for a decade and hopes to keep bringing you articles for decades to come.