Joe Emerson is the former Alaska Airlines captain who, on October 22, 2023, tried to shut down the engines of a Horizon Air regional jet from the cockpit jump seat. The crew stopped him, the plane landed safely in Portland, and he later said he had taken psilocybin mushrooms two days earlier and believed he was trapped in a dream. After pleading no contest to 84 Oregon charges and guilty to a federal felony, he was sentenced to time already served, five years of probation, 664 hours of community service, and roughly $60,000 in restitution. He served no additional prison time.
What Happened on Horizon Air Flight 2059
Emerson was deadheading — riding as an off-duty pilot — in the cockpit jump seat of Horizon Air Flight 2059, an Embraer 175 flying from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, to San Francisco.1NBC DFW. Off-Duty Alaska Airlines Pilot Riding in the Cockpit Jump Seat Tried to Shut Down the Engines Mid-Flight Gate agents and flight attendants observed no signs of impairment during boarding.2Alaska Airlines Newsroom. Information on Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 Operated by Horizon Air
In flight, Emerson threw off his headset, told the pilots “I’m not okay,” and grabbed the two red fire suppression handles that cut fuel to the engines. Captain Alan Koziol seized his wrist and the two struggled for about 30 seconds. The handles were never pulled all the way down, so the engines kept running.3ABC News. Former Alaska Airlines Pilot Who Tried to Shut Down Engines Midflight Avoids Prison
Emerson left the cockpit and walked to the back of the plane, where he tried to open a cabin door. A flight attendant intervened, and Emerson asked to be handcuffed. He later told ABC News, “I essentially asked to be restrained myself because I knew if this is real, I’ve already done enough damage.”4ABC 7 Chicago. Former Alaska Airlines Pilot Joseph Emerson Tried to Shut Down Engines on Flight, Shares Story The flight diverted to Portland International Airport and landed with more than 80 people on board unharmed.
Why He Did It
Emerson had spent more than 20 years in aviation, joining Horizon in 2001 and becoming an Alaska Airlines captain by 2019. His FAA medical certifications had never been denied, suspended, or revoked. In the months before the flight, his best man had died. A therapist suggested he see a doctor about possible depression and antidepressants, but he avoided it, worried that an FAA-recognized diagnosis or prescription would cost him his medical certificate and his career.5People. Why Did Pilot Joseph Emerson Try to Shut Down a Plane
Two days before the flight, at a gathering to mark his friend’s life, Emerson took psilocybin mushrooms for what his attorneys said was the first time. He told police afterward that he had not slept for about 48 hours, that “everything wasn’t real,” and that he was “in crisis.”6The New York Times. Alaska Airlines Pilot Plea Agreement Mushrooms
While he was in jail, a physician diagnosed him with hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, a rare condition in which perceptual distortions from a psychedelic continue after the drug has worn off. His defense argued he had experienced “drug-induced psychosis” that left him “completely detached from reality for several days,” genuinely convinced he was dreaming and needed to wake up.3ABC News. Former Alaska Airlines Pilot Who Tried to Shut Down Engines Midflight Avoids Prison His attorneys also said he recognized in custody that he was an alcoholic and had been sober for two years by sentencing.
In an August 2024 interview, Emerson called the incident “the biggest mistake of my life” and “the worst 30 seconds of my life,” and said, “At the end of the day, I accept responsibility for the choices that I made. They’re my choices.”4ABC 7 Chicago. Former Alaska Airlines Pilot Joseph Emerson Tried to Shut Down Engines on Flight, Shares Story
The Charges
Port of Portland police initially booked Emerson on 83 counts of attempted murder, one count of endangering an aircraft, and several counts of reckless endangerment. A grand jury declined to indict on attempted murder. By his December 7, 2023 arraignment, the case had been reduced to 83 misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and one felony count of first-degree endangering an aircraft.7IJPR. Off-Duty Pilot Arrested for Cockpit Disturbance to Be Released From Jail He was released on $5,000 bail after roughly 45 to 50 days in jail.
Federal prosecutors filed a separate charge in U.S. District Court in Portland: one count of interfering with flight crew members and attendants, a felony carrying up to 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine, and three years of supervised release.8U.S. Department of Justice. Off-Duty Commercial Airline Pilot Pleads Guilty to Interfering With Flight Crew
How the Case Ended
On September 5, 2025, Emerson entered a no-contest plea in Multnomah County Circuit Court to all 84 state charges. A no-contest plea carries the same legal effect as a guilty plea. Judge Cheryl Albrecht sentenced him to 50 days in jail credited as time served, five years of formal probation, and 664 hours of community service — eight hours for each person endangered on the flight.9Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office. Former Alaska Airlines Pilot Pleads No Contest to Trying to Shut Down Horizon Flight 2059 Engines Over Oregon He was ordered to pay about $60,000 in restitution, primarily to Alaska Airlines for the diversion and passenger refunds.
Probation conditions include mental health, drug, and alcohol assessment and treatment, a bar on controlled substances without a prescription, and an order to stay at least 25 feet from any operable aircraft unless his probation officer approves in writing.10OPB. Joseph Emerson Pilot Criminal Charges
The same day, Emerson pleaded guilty to the federal charge, waiving indictment. Prosecutors recommended one year in prison; his defense asked for probation. On November 17, 2025, U.S. District Judge Amy Baggio sentenced him to credit for 46 days of time served and three years of supervised release, with no additional prison time. Federal prosecutors did not seek restitution beyond what he had already paid.11Reuters. Ex-Alaska Airlines Pilot Avoids Additional Jail Time for Mid-Flight Sabotage Attempt
Why the Judge Chose Probation
Baggio did not minimize what happened. She called it “the ultimate example of aberrant conduct” and a “most egregious breach of his long-held position of trust,” adding: “But for the professionalism and heroism of that flight crew, this undoubtedly could have ended in great tragedy.”12The Oregonian. Former Alaska Pilot Who Tried to Cut Plane’s Engines Over Oregon Avoids Federal Prison
She still found prison unnecessary. Emerson had lost his job, his career, and “decades of certifications,” which she called “significant punishment for his crime.” She described his hallucinogen persisting perception disorder as “rare but real” and called the case a “cautionary tale” about persistent psychosis from hallucinogenic mushrooms. She also pointed to a wider problem, saying, “Pilots are not perfect. They are human. They are people and people need help sometime,” and citing a culture of “health care avoidance” encouraged by strict FAA medical rules.13KATU. Attorneys for Disgraced Ex-Pilot Joseph Emerson Ask for Probation
Captain Koziol, who had physically stopped Emerson, testified that he saw “no malice” in his actions and warned that a punitive outcome could deter other pilots from seeking mental health care. Passenger Alison Snyder described the flight as a “traumatic experience” and urged that Emerson never be certified to fly again.12The Oregonian. Former Alaska Pilot Who Tried to Cut Plane’s Engines Over Oregon Avoids Federal Prison
What He Lost
The FAA revoked both Emerson’s pilot certificate and his medical certificate. Alaska Airlines fired him. His brokerage bank cut ties, and he liquidated his retirement accounts. As of his federal sentencing, he was working part-time as a pressure washer.12The Oregonian. Former Alaska Pilot Who Tried to Cut Plane’s Engines Over Oregon Avoids Federal Prison
Asked in 2024 whether he wants to fly again, Emerson said, “Of course I want to fly again. I’d be totally disingenuous if I said no.” He added: “It’s not up to me to engineer that. What is up to me is to do what’s in front of me, put myself in a position where that’s a possibility.”14Fox Business. Former Alaska Airlines Pilot Who Tried to Kill Plane Engines Says He Wants to Fly Again
What He Does Now
Emerson and his wife, Sarah Stretch, co-founded Clear Skies Ahead, a nonprofit focused on the aeromedical system and the mental health of aviation professionals.15Clear Skies Ahead. Leadership The group funds research into barriers to care, pushes for aeromedical certification reform, and works to reduce the stigma around treatment. It cites a 2022 study finding that more than 56 percent of respondents had avoided medical care out of concern for their pilot certificate.16Clear Skies Ahead. Clear Skies Ahead
Emerson’s state sentence lets him complete half of his 664 community service hours through Clear Skies Ahead.17CNN. Horizon Air Cockpit Emergency Judge Baggio described his post-arrest work — volunteering with other pilots and lobbying for the Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025 — as “unique” among defendants she had sentenced.13KATU. Attorneys for Disgraced Ex-Pilot Joseph Emerson Ask for Probation