Off-duty pilot says he was on mushrooms when trying to cut engines mid-flight

Joseph David Emerson, left, 44, was arraigned in Multnomah County Circuit Court on Tues., Oct. 24, 2023, in Portland, Ore. Emerson, a pilot, is accused of trying to disable the engines of an airplane on which he was riding while off-duty last Sunday.

State prosecutors in Oregon filed 83 counts of tried murder versus Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph David Emerson, 44, on Tuesday just before he appeared in court, with his attorney, Noah Horst, getting in not-guilty pleas on his behalf. Federal prosecutors on the other hand charged Emerson with interfering with a flight team, which can carry as much as 20 years in prison.

According to a likely cause declaration filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, Emerson told private investigators he had taken psychedelic mushrooms and had not slept 40 hours before the event. He stated he had been having problem with anxiety and a good friend had actually recently passed away before he tried to cut the engines.

According to the Associated Press, Emerson stated "I'm not okay" just before trying to cut the engines mid-flight.

Police reported that Emerson did not appear to be intoxicated at the time of the interview, and in a declaration Tuesday, Alaska Airlines, which owns Horizon, stated neither eviction agents nor flight team observed any indications of impairment that might have barred him from the flight. An FBI representative wrote in a possible cause affidavit in assistance of the federal charge that Emerson "said it was his very first time taking mushrooms.".

While psilocybin is unlawful in the majority of the country-- Oregon legalized it for grownups this year-- the Food and Drug Administration in 2018 designated it a "advancement therapy" that might be utilized for psychological health conditions or compound use disorders.

Cops chief's boy desired for shooting officers discovered dead.

Emerson was jailed Sunday night after the flight crew reported that he attempted to shut down the engines on a Horizon Air flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco. The aircraft was diverted to Portland, where it landed safely with more than 80 people on board.

The FBI affidavit stated Emerson, who as an off-duty pilot was authorized to ride in the cockpit's dive seat, made casual conversation with the captain and very first officer when the airplane was in between Astoria, Oregon, and Portland, before attempting to get 2 red manages that would have activated the airplane's fire suppression system and cut off fuel to its engines.

After what the flight team referred to as a quick battle, lasting just about 30 seconds, Emerson left the cockpit, the FBI said.

Flight attendants positioned Emerson in wrist restraints and seated him in the rear of the aircraft, however as the plane came down, he attempted to grab the handle of a fire escape, according to the file. A flight attendant stopped him by positioning her hands on top of his, it said.

Alaska Airlines stated Tuesday that Emerson had actually been eliminated of all tasks.

Emerson walked calmly to the back of the airplane after being told to leave the cockpit and informed a flight attendant, "You need to cuff me today or it's going to be bad," the affidavit stated. Another flight attendant heard him stating, "I messed everything up" and "tried to eliminate everybody.".

Stipe Miocic's UFC title battle called off.

According to the affidavit, he asked cops if he could waive his right to a lawyer: "I'm admitting to what I did. I'm not battling any charges you want to bring versus me, guys.".

He likewise told them he believed he was having a worried breakdown and stated: "I pulled both emergency situation shut-off manages because I thought I was dreaming and I simply wan na awaken," according to the affidavit.

Pilots are required to go through psychological screening as part of their routinely arranged medical examinations. There have actually been crashes that investigators believe were deliberately caused by pilots. Authorities said the copilot of a Germanwings jet that crashed in the French Alps in 2015 had actually practiced putting the airplane into a dive.

Emerson took his newest test in September, Federal Aviation Administration records show-- but according to the charging documents, he had long been battling with depression.

Emerson was to remain in state custody pending an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Portland, the U.S. lawyer's workplace said in a statement.