An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot was arrested and charged with attempted murder after attempting to take control of a plane like the one pictured here. File Photo by John G. Mabanglo/EPA
Oct. 23 (UPI) — An off-duty pilot was arrested after attempting to take control of an Alaska Airlines flight over the weekend.
The off-duty pilot, identified as 44-year-old Joseph Emerson was arrested by the Port of Portland Police Department and charged with 83 felony counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft.
The incident occurred on Alaska Airlines flight 2059 on Sunday, which was being operated by Alaska Airlines subsidiary Horizon Air.
The off-duty pilot was riding in the cockpit jump seat of the flight when he reportedly tried to shut down the aircraft’s engines.
“The jump seat occupant unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt the operation of the engines,” Alsaksa Airlines said. “The Horizon Captain and First Officer quickly responded, engine power was not lost, and the crew secured the aircraft without incident.”
The twin-jet Embraer 175 was traveling from Everett, Wash., to San Francisco when the incident occurred.
Flight 2059 then diverted and safely landed in Portland, Ore. The off-duty pilot was arrested after the plane landed.
Recordings from LiveATC captured the pilots reacting to the incident as it took place.
“I’ll just give you a heads-up. We’ve got the guy that tried to shut the engines down out of the cockpit,” the pilot is heard telling air traffic controllers on the ground in Portland.
“It doesn’t seem like he’s causing any issue at the back. I think he’s subdued.”
Alaska Airlines praised the action of the pilots to shut down the incident.
“We are grateful for the professional handling of the situation by the Horizon flight crew and appreciate our guests’ calm and patience throughout this event,” it said.