Off-Duty Pilot Who Tried to Shut Down Plane Engines After Taking Mushrooms Believed He Was “Trapped in a Dream”
Joseph Emerson, a former Alaska Airlines captain who tried to shut down a plane’s engines midflight during a mental health crisis, is scheduled for sentencing next week. The 44-year-old pilot was off duty and riding in the cockpit jump seat when the October 2023 incident occurred aboard Alaska Airlines Flight 2059, operated by Horizon Air, en route from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco.
The Incident
Court documents reveal that Emerson, who was facing deep emotional distress following the sudden death of his best friend — a fellow pilot — had taken psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours before the flight during a remembrance gathering. His attorneys said he suffered a rare reaction to psilocybin, the hallucinogenic compound in magic mushrooms, leaving him detached from reality for several days with symptoms consistent with Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder.
During the flight, Emerson reportedly “believed he was either trapped in a dream or already dead,” according to a sentencing memo filed Wednesday Nov. 12. Believing the flight wasn’t real, he joined it thinking it might help him “wake up” and see his family again.
As the plane cruised at altitude, Emerson became convinced the aircraft would “never make it home” and that he was doomed to fly endlessly. He then attempted to pull the engine fire handles, which would have cut off fuel to the engines. The on-duty pilots quickly intervened, restraining Emerson before he could complete the action.
After leaving the cockpit, Emerson reportedly placed his hand in a pot of hot coffee to try to “wake himself up,” still believing he was trapped in a dream. He then voluntarily approached flight attendants, told them he couldn’t distinguish reality, and asked to be restrained. The aircraft diverted safely, and Emerson was taken into custody without incident.
The Aftermath
While in jail, Emerson began journaling and reflecting on his struggles with alcohol and mental health, which he had avoided addressing throughout his flying career. His lawyers said the pilot had never sought therapy because of the fear that doing so could jeopardize his medical certification and flying privileges — a dilemma faced by many pilots.
Emerson and his wife have since launched a nonprofit organization, Clear Skies Ahead, aimed at raising awareness about mental health in aviation and encouraging pilots to seek help without fear of professional repercussions.
Legal Proceedings
Emerson was initially charged with 83 counts of attempted murder — one for each person on board — and faced up to 20 years in prison. In September, he pleaded guilty to lesser charges of endangering an aircraft. Federal prosecutors have recommended a 12-month prison sentence, while a pre-sentence report suggested six months of home detention. Emerson’s defense team has requested credit for time served and probation instead.
His sentencing is scheduled for next Monday in an Oregon federal court.
The case has reignited debate within the aviation community about the stigma surrounding mental health and the need for systemic reforms to allow pilots to safely access treatment without risking their careers — an issue that Emerson’s nonprofit now seeks to address.
Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=Horizon+Air, https://airguide.info/?s=Alaska+Airlines, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/travel-health-security/
Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, businessinsider.com