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Tag: horizon

  • Alaska Pilot Experimented with Psychedelic Shrooms Leading Up to Horizon 2059 Incident

    Alaska Pilot Experimented with Psychedelic Shrooms Leading Up to Horizon 2059 Incident

    In an alarming incident that unfolded on Sunday, October 22, 2023, aboard Horizon Airlines Flight 2059, we learned that an off-duty pilot by the name of Joseph David Emerson caused quite a commotion on the plane. This incident was no ordinary inflight disturbance, as Emerson attempted to shut down both engines mid-air in an apparent attempt to crash the Embraer E175 carrying 84 passengers and crew.

    The recently released probable cause affidavit, filed by Special Agent TaPara Simmons Jr. of the FBI and obtained by NPR, sheds light on the events that transpired. Emerson, who was sitting in the cockpit jump seat, took actions that left the crew and passengers in a state of shock.

    As the flight was en route to Portland International Airport, approximately halfway between Astoria, Oregon and Portland, Emerson made his unsettling move. He reached up and grabbed the red fire handles, which, if fully activated, would shut down the aircraft’s engines, essentially turning it into a glider. This audacious action prompted both pilots to intervene. They struggled with Emerson, ultimately preventing him from causing catastrophic consequences.

    What’s truly astonishing is that Emerson, who claimed to have been with the airline for ten years, seemed perfectly normal during the early stages of the flight. He engaged in casual conversation with the pilots and even talked about aircraft. However, somewhere along the way, he declared, “I’m not okay” and attempted to shut down the engines.

    The flight attendants also had their hands full, with Emerson’s behavior causing further alarm. They received a call from the cockpit and were told that Emerson was “losing it.” Upon leaving the cockpit, Emerson apparently attempted to open the emergency exit – a feat which isn’t possible at cruising altitude. He was eventually secured, handcuffed (which he actually asked for!), and seated at the back of the aircraft. Emerson continued to make concerning statements during the flight, admitting to endangering the lives of 84 people on board, including his own.

    Emerson’s post-incident interview with law enforcement revealed that he believed he was having a “nervous breakdown” and had not slept in 40 hours. He mentioned feeling dehydrated and tired. Emerson also revealed that this incident occurred after his experimentation with psychedelic mushrooms, although he denied taking any other medication.

    In light of these events, Special Agent TaPara Simmons Jr. submitted an affidavit seeking a criminal complaint and an arrest warrant for Emerson, charging him with “Interference with Flight Crew Members and Attendants” under Title 49 U.S.C. § 46504. This charge carries a potential penalty of a fine, imprisonment for up to 20 years, or both.

    The document leaves us with many questions, primarily concerning the potential consequences of drug use in the airline industry and the need for improved mental health support for airline personnel. In the end, while these are important discussions to have, there’s never an excuse to endanger 84 innocent lives. While this is a sad story for all involved, Emerson must still be held accountable for his actions and brought to justice.

  • Shocking Midflight Engine Shutdown Attempt: New Details Emerge

    Shocking Midflight Engine Shutdown Attempt: New Details Emerge

    In our previous report, we reported on a shocking incident that unfolded on Horizon Air Flight 2059, a regional carrier for Alaska, during its journey from Everett (PAE) to San Francisco (SFO). An off-duty pilot, Joseph David Emerson, seated in the jumpseat, allegedly attempted to shut off the engines mid-flight. The plane, an Embraer E175, was ultimately diverted to Portland International Airport (PDX), where Emerson was apprehended by law enforcement. The incident led to a laundry list of charges, including 83 felony counts of attempted murder, 83 misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment, and 1 felony count of endangering an aircraft.

    Now, new details have emerged, shedding light on the harrowing events that took place on that fateful flight.

    The FAA’s Chilling Notice

    An FAA notice distributed to all U.S. airlines through its Domestic Events Network classified this as a “significant security event.” It disclosed that the “jump seat passenger” had attempted to disable the aircraft engines while the plane was at cruise altitude. This attempt was made by deploying the engine fire suppression system.

    In the Embraer E175, the fire handles, which are critical for controlling the engines, are located above the pilots on the ceiling. Pulling down the handle is a simple yet effective way to shut off fuel to the affected engine, quite literally halting the addition of fuel to the fire. This action, however, results in the engine’s immediate shutdown due to the lack of fuel supply. Rotating the handle after it’s pulled down activates two redundant fire suppression canisters; left for canister “A” and right for canister “B.”

    Alaska Air spokesperson Alexa Rudin revealed that, thankfully, some residual fuel remained in the line. The quick response of the flight crew, who reset the handles and restored fuel flow, averted a catastrophic fuel starvation.

    During the incident, the pilot flying the plane relayed a calm but chilling message to Portland air traffic control. “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 stated. “It doesn’t seem like he’s causing any issue at the back. I think he’s subdued.”

    From Level 4 Threat to Handcuffs

    As the plane approached Portland for its final landing, the air traffic controller sought verification of the threat level. The pilot flying responded, designating it as a “Level 4” threat, indicating a “breach of the flight crew compartment.” However, the situation evolved rapidly, with the pilot adding, “The threat is now in the back of the airplane, so we’ve reduced the threat level.”

    The crew, after a check-in with the flight attendants, informed air traffic control that the individual who had attempted to shut down the engines was “handcuffed and he’s in the aft back jumpseat for when law enforcement arrives, and right now he’s staying calm.” This “aft back jumpseat” is typically used by a flight attendant during landing.

    A Heroic Response

    Under the Federal Flight Deck Officer program, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) deputizes qualified volunteer pilots as law enforcement officers to defend the flight deck of aircraft against acts of criminal violence and air piracy. This completely voluntary program, upon completion of specialized training, allows deputized pilots to carry a concealed handgun in order to protect their passengers. It’s currently unclear whether either of the pilots on this flight had such training or if they were carrying concealed weapons, but they certainly acted heroically to prevent a potentially catastrophic outcome.

    In a statement, the FBI assured the public that there is no ongoing threat related to this incident, while the FAA pledged its full support to law enforcement investigations.

    As the investigation unfolds, stay tuned for further updates as more details emerge.

    h/t Seattle Times

  • Unthinkable Mid-Flight Scare: Pilot’s Attempt to Shut Down Engines Leads to 83 Counts of Attempted Murder

    Unthinkable Mid-Flight Scare: Pilot’s Attempt to Shut Down Engines Leads to 83 Counts of Attempted Murder

    YIKES! It’s not every day you hear about a pilot attempting something as harrowing as shutting down the engines mid-flight. But that’s exactly what happened on Horizon Air flight 2059 (a regional carrier for Alaska), flying from Everett (PAE) to San Francisco (SFO) with an Embraer E175. In an alarming turn of events, an off-duty pilot, Joseph David Emerson, found himself in the jump seat, that seat inside the cockpit reserved for deadheading crew or other authorized individuals.

    Emerson allegedly made a run for the engine shutoffs in an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft with everyone on board. Luckily, the flight ended up diverting safely to Portland International Airport (PDX), and the situation was brought under control. It’s unclear who subdued Emerson, but given that the cockpit door is locked from the inside, it’s likely the on-duty captain and first officer played a crucial role in containing the situation.

    If you’re curious to hear just how it went down, there’s an audio recording available on LiveATC. At 10:56 on the recording, you can hear the captain notifying air traffic controllers that the pilot in question had been subdued and was now located in the back of the aircraft. They also requested law enforcement to meet the flight upon landing.

    Upon landing, Emerson was promptly arrested, and the charges against him are nothing short of jaw-dropping. According to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office website, he’s facing a laundry list of legal troubles:

    • 83 felony counts of attempted murder
    • 83 misdemeanor counts of reckless endangerment
    • 1 felony count of endangering an aircraft

    Alaska Air Group issued a statement, thanking their crew for professionally handling the situation. They also expressed their appreciation for their passengers’ calm and patience throughout the event. Kudos to the crew for keeping their cool during this extremely tense situation.

    The crew secured the aircraft without incident. All passengers on board were able to travel on a later flight. 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.

    Statement by Alaska Air Group

    This incident underscores the critical importance of ensuring that those with cockpit access are trustworthy beyond reproach, and there’s not even an appearance of a doubt as to their trustworthiness and professionalism. Will this alarming episode prompt changes in the industry to prevent similar incidents in the future? It’s a question worth pondering.

    One possible outcome could be the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reevaluating the use of jump seats and perhaps even banning nonessential personnel from occupying them. This, however, would likely require airlines to remove one seat from their inventory on all future flights, potentially resulting in some involuntary rebookings for passengers who already had their tickets. And let’s face it, this could lead to a rise in airfares – but safety is the #1 concern, always.

    In the wake of such a shocking event, we can only hope for a thorough review of security measures and procedures to ensure the safety and trustworthiness of those entrusted with the lives of passengers. After all, the skies should remain the last place we expect such chilling surprises.

    h/t Running with Miles, KATU Channel 2