Former Alaska Airlines Pilot pleads Guilty After In-Flight Engine Tampering Attempt
Portland, OR - A former Alaska Airlines pilot, Joseph Emerson, has pleaded guilty in state court to charges stemming from a harrowing incident in 2023 where he attempted to shut down the engines of a passenger flight mid-air. The flight, carrying 84 passengers and crew, was diverted from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco and safely landed in Portland, Oregon, after Emerson pulled a fire suppression system handle in the cockpit.
Emerson’s guilty plea comes with a sentence of 50 days in prison, including time already served, and a five-year probation period. He still faces federal sentencing in November, where his legal team is expected to request probation, while prosecutors may seek a prison sentence of up to one year.The incident unfolded when Emerson, while piloting flight 2059, attempted to activate the engine fire suppression system, which would have cut off fuel to the engines. A struggle ensued with the co-pilot, lasting approximately 90 seconds, before emerson was subdued. According to court documents, Emerson then attempted to open an emergency exit door as the plane descended.
“What Joseph Emerson did was reckless, selfish, and criminal,” stated Multnomah County Deputy Attorney General Eric Pickard. “We must remember how close he came to causing devastation, not only to the 84 people on board flight 2059, but to all of their loved ones.”
Emerson has admitted obligation for his actions, stating, “It shouldn’t have happened, and I am responsible for that.” He initially told authorities he was experiencing a mental health crisis triggered by grief over the recent death of