Alaska Airlines Pilot Who Faces Attempted Murder Charges After Trying To Crash Plane While High On Mushrooms Claims He’s A ‘Better’ Person Now

An off-duty pilot is facing multiple charges, including attempted murder, after trying to disable an Alaska Airlines flight’s engines mid-air in October 2023. The incident has raised concerns about pilot screening and mental health in the aviation industry.

Joseph Emerson, 44, of California, was arrested after the flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco made an emergency landing in Portland, Oregon. Emerson, who was seated in the cockpit jump seat, allegedly attempted to shut down the plane’s engines by pulling emergency shut-off handles.

According to court documents, Emerson told investigators he had consumed psychedelic mushrooms 48 hours before the flight. He also reported being severely sleep-deprived and experiencing depression, which he said may have been caused by a friend’s recent death.

The Oregon State Court has charged Emerson with 83 counts of attempted murder – one for each person aboard the flight – and one count of endangering an aircraft. Federal prosecutors have additionally filed charges of interfering with a flight crew.

Emerson’s attorney entered a not guilty plea to the attempted murder charges on Tuesday. The attorney issued a statement describing Emerson as a “caring father” and “skilled aviator” who would never intentionally harm others. The statement also asserted that Emerson was not under the influence of any substances when he boarded the flight.

The FBI is looking into whether Emerson was still under the influence during the incident. Although the effects of psychedelic mushrooms usually last 4-8 hours, some experts believe that in some cases, these effects might linger for days.

Experts say that psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, could potentially have lingering effects 48 hours after ingestion, particularly with high doses and without proper supervision.

In a new interview on Good Morning America, Emerson claimed to have learned from the incident. “I’m better for it, which is kind of a weird thing to say, but I am really better for all of us,” he said of the increased family time he has now.

As the investigation continues, authorities are working to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident and any potential implications for airline safety protocols.