Alaska Airlines Faces Class-Action Suit Over In-Flight Engine Shutdown Scare

Passengers from an Alaska Airlines flight have initiated a class-action lawsuit following a harrowing incident where an off-duty pilot allegedly attempted to cut the plane’s engines mid-flight. The suit demands enhanced pre-flight pilot screenings.

In Portland, Oregon, a group of travelers who experienced terror aboard an Alaska Airlines aircraft has taken legal action against the carrier. The lawsuit stems from a distressing episode on October 22, during which Joseph David Emerson, an off-duty pilot, reportedly tried to disable the jet’s engines while occupying the cockpit’s jump seat.

The legal action, pursued by the Strittmatter Firm, representing three passengers, seeks to obligate Alaska Airlines and its partner, Horizon Air, to bolster pre-flight pilot vetting processes and demands a full disclosure from the airline regarding the event’s specifics.

The passengers’ ordeal began when Emerson, aged 44, purportedly aimed to shut down the engines, prompting intervention from flight staff and fellow pilots. Post-incident, Emerson disclosed to authorities his ingestion of psychedelic mushrooms prior to the flight and admitted to a prolonged period of sleep deprivation and enduring depression.

With 83 individuals on board the flight destined for San Francisco from Everett, of whom 11 were minors, the lawsuit recounts the fear and uncertainty that gripped the passengers, as concerns of technical malfunctions or terrorist acts loomed.

Daniel Laurence, of the Strittmatter Firm, insists on the necessity for pilots to be well-rested and mentally fit before flying, pointing to the broader issue of mental health within the pilot community and the stigma that deters them from seeking help.

The legal complaint emphasizes the need for airlines to have insight into their pilots’ well-being and implies that the indicators of Emerson’s struggles should have been apparent to his employer.

In the days following the distressing flight, the two pilots on duty reported no early signs of Emerson’s intentions. Despite passing his FAA medical certifications and being cleared by the Cockpit Access Security System to occupy the jump seat, Alaska Airlines has since suspended Emerson from all duties.

Emerson faces serious legal repercussions, including 83 counts of attempted murder and federal charges for interference with a flight crew, with further court proceedings set for late November.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, king5.com