His attorney says Emerson agreed to the deals because he wants to take responsibility and hopes to avoid more time behind bars.
PORTLAND, Ore. — A former Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to cut the engines of a passenger flight in 2023 while riding off-duty in the cockpit reached separate plea deals with state and federal prosecutors on Friday.
Attorney Noah Horst said his client, Joseph Emerson, agreed to the deals because he wants to take responsibility and hopes to avoid more time behind bars. He declined to provide details prior to Friday’s hearing.
Emerson was subdued by a flight crew after trying to pull emergency handles that would have cut fuel to the engines of a Horizon Air flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco on Oct. 22, 2023. He was not the flight’s captain or co-pilot, but was riding in a jump seat in the cockpit. The plane was diverted to Portland, where it landed safely with more than 80 people on board.
Emerson later told police he was despondent over a friend’s death, had taken psychedelic mushrooms about two days earlier and had gone more than 40 hours without sleep. He said he believed he was dreaming and was trying to wake himself up when he grabbed the handles.
Federal prosecutors charged him with interfering with a flight crew. A state indictment in Oregon added 83 counts of endangering another person and one count of endangering an aircraft.
Emerson previously pleaded not guilty, but was expected to change his plea Friday to guilty on the federal charge and no contest on the state charges, which carries the same legal effect as a guilty plea, according to the Associated Press.
In federal court, Emerson pleaded guilty Friday to interfering with flight crew members and attendants. He faces a maximum sentence in that case of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years’ supervised release. His sentencing in federal court is scheduled for Nov. 17.
As part of the plea agreement, Emerson agreed to pay full restitution to the victims, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon.
On Friday afternoon, Emerson appeared before a Multnomah County judge to change his plea on the dozens of state charges to no contest.
Victims were given the opportunity to deliver impact statements, which several did. Emerson also made an emotional statement of apology to the victims alongside his plea, saying he was in recovery for alcohol use and had started a nonprofit dedicated to getting pilots better mental health care.
“What happened was wrong and it shouldn’t have happened,” Emerson said. “And I bear the responsibility for that.”
Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Cheryl Albrecht sentenced Emerson to 50 days in jail for the state charges, with credit for time served. He’ll also need to complete 664 hours of community service — hours for each of the victims, along with five years’ probation.
What happened inside the flight
According to court records, when the plane was between Astoria and Portland, Emerson declared, “I’m not okay,” threw his headset and tried to pull the two red handles controlling the fire suppression system.
Alaska Airlines said gate agents and the crew noticed no signs of impairment before the flight. Emerson held a valid FAA medical certificate and was eligible for the cockpit jump seat as a current Alaska Airlines captain. The airline has since relieved him of his duties.
Police records say Emerson had taken psychedelic mushrooms for the first time several days earlier but showed no indication of distress during the first part of the flight.
Emerson was released from custody in December 2023 pending trial, under conditions requiring him to undergo mental health treatment, avoid drugs and alcohol, and stay away from aircraft.
The case renewed scrutiny of cockpit safety and pilot mental health, including a New York Times documentary examining the incident.
Amy-Xiaoshi DePaola contributed reporting to this article.
Copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
