Report: Off-Duty Pilot Charged With Murder Was Suffering 'Nervous Breakdown' After Taking Psychedelic MushroomsThe Alaska Airlines flight was headed to San Francisco from Everett, Washington, before it made an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon.

ByEmily RellaOriginally published

Joseph Emerson, the 44-year-old off-duty pilot who was arrested earlier this week for 83 counts of attempted murder after trying to shut down a plane's engine mid-flight is allegingthat he had在incide“神经衰弱”nt on the Alaska Airlines flight.

According tocourt documents据报道,爱默生迷幻穆什鲁缎ms 48 hours prior to the incident and said that he was "not OK" during the flight, claiming he thought that the pilots operating the aircraft "weren't paying attention to what was going on" and that he was feeling "depressed" and detached from reality to the point that he thought he "was dreaming."

"I'm not fighting any charges you want to bring against me, guys," Emersonreportedly saidwhile in custody.

Upon Emerson's admission, Alaska Airlinesreleased a statementconfirming that the affidavit details were consistent with what airline leadership had been told "based on debriefings with each member of the flight crew" and that Emerson has been "removed from service indefinitely" and is no longer employed by the airline.

"At no time during the check-in or boarding process did our Gate Agents or flight crew observe any signs of impairment that would have led them to prevent Emerson from flying on Flight 2059," Alaska Airlines said.

Emerson is currently facing 83 felony counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment, and one count of endangering an aircraft.

Original story below.

Travelers on an Alaska Airlines flightfaced amid-flight nightmare after an off-duty pilot, sitting in the cockpit, tried to shut off the plane's engine,the airline said.

Joseph Emerson, age 44,was chargedwith 83 felony counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment, and one count of endangering an aircraft after trying to shut down the engine on a Horizon Airlines (operated by Alaska) flight on the way to San Francisco, California from Everett, Washington. The on-duty pilot made an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon.

"We've got the guy that tried to shut the engines down out of the cockpit," the pilotallegedly said duringan air traffic control recording of the situation obtained by local outletKATU. "He doesn't sound like he's causing any issue in the back right now, and I think he's subdued. Other than that, yeah, we want law enforcement as soon as we get on the ground and parked."

Related:Alaska Airlines Brewing Coffee That Tastes Better In the Air

Emerson was reportedly sitting in the jump seat in the cockpit when the incident occurred. No one was injured during the attempted takeover.

"Following appropriate FAA procedures and guidance from air traffic control, the flight safely diverted to Portland International Airport," Alaska Airlinessaid in a statementto CNN. "The event is being investigated by law enforcement authorities."

The FBI said "there is no continuing threat related to this incident," perCBS. There are no details on Emerson's motivation as of press time.

Alaska Airlines did not immediately respond toEntrepreneur'srequest for comment.

Related:Southwest Ranked Worst Ranked Airline of 2023: Report

Emily Rella

Entrepreneur Staff

Senior News Writer

Emily Rella is a Senior News Writer at Entrepreneur.com. Previously, she was an editor at Verizon Media. Her coverage spans features, business, lifestyle, tech, entertainment, and lifestyle. She is a 2015 graduate of Boston College and a Ridgefield, CT native. Find her on Twitter at @EmilyKRella.

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