Former Alaska Airlines pilot who tried to shut down the engines in mid-flight speaks out

A former Alaska Airlines A pilot accused of recklessly endangering other passengers while attempting to shut down the engine of a regional flight to San Francisco speaks out about the experience and importance of mental health for pilots.

How did that happen?

Last October, an off-duty pilot in the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines flight attempted to shut down the engines mid-flight, leading to a diversion and a subsequent lawsuit. Speaking to Gio Benitez on Good Morning America this morning, Joseph David Emerson talks about what was going through his mind on that fateful day.

Regional flight AS2059 from Paine Field International Airport (PAE) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) was operated by the group’s subsidiary, Horizon Air. Boeing 737-800 plane. Emerson, returning from a weekend celebrating the life of his close friend Scott, sat in the jump seat behind the pilots in the cockpit but was not actively involved in flying the plane.

According to Emerson, he was overcome with fear that he would never be able to return to his wife and children and felt trapped in the cockpit of the jet. This fear was exacerbated by the influence of psychoactive mushrooms, which he had taken for the first time two days earlier as part of a grief process with his friends. Although the effects had worn off to the point where staff at the departure and destination airports no longer found him physically impaired, the hallucinations continued and eventually led to the flight being cancelled. Sitting in the cockpit, Emerson describes the overwhelming feeling that his current situation was an illusion, saying:

At this point, Emerson texted a friend for emotional support, who encouraged him to do breathing exercises. However, the message sent through his headset increased his stress levels. After he dropped his headset and neither the pilot nor the first officer responded, Emerson was even more convinced he was dreaming, telling GMA:

“And when the pilots didn’t react to my completely abnormal behavior in a way that I thought was realistic, I thought: This isn’t real. I have to wake up.”

Photo: Ian Dewar Photography | Shutterstock

Thinking this would snap him out of his delusion, Emerson reached forward and pulled two red levers designed to cut off the fuel supply to the engines in the event of a fire. “I thought this was my way to escape this unreal reality, so I reached up, grabbed it and pulled the levers.”

The flight crew reacted quickly and intervened before Emerson had a chance to fully extend the levers, averting a potential crisis. It was the pilot’s touch on his hand that brought Emerson back to reality, and he volunteered to leave the flight control.

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The incident was not over yet, however, as the nagging feeling of being trapped remained, so he reached for the emergency exit handle on the plane’s door. This time, a flight attendant came to his aid, gently removing his hand from the lever, which had not yet been pulled.

Around this time, Emerson texted his wife Sarah. The message read: “I made a big mistake.” When she replied: “What is up? Are you okay? “Joe replied: “I’m not.” These were the last words she heard from him for 24 hours. When Emerson realized the gravity of his actions, she told the flight attendant: “I don’t understand what is real,” and asked them to handcuff him until he could be helped.

Photo: BlueBarronPhoto | Shutterstock

The flight was diverted to Portland International Airport (PDX), where he was taken into custody after landing.

Why say something now?

The reason Emerson and his wife have spoken out is because they believe his story.tells a broader story about pilot health.” After the death of his best friend and fellow pilot, Emerson tried to cope by turning to alcohol. Fearful of seeking professional help because it could affect his flying career, he continued to self-medicate until the fateful flight.

Although he later learned from his prison doctor that it was not uncommon to experience persistent visual hallucinations or perceptual disturbances for several days when taking psychedelics, the fact that he felt unable to seek professional help for his depression became one of his main motivators.

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Airlines and regulators have been paying increasing attention to pilot mental health in recent months and are looking for ways to destigmatize seeking mental health treatment. When asked how the airline plans to ensure pilots feel comfortable seeking help, an Alaska Airlines employee pointed to the availability of peer support programs designed specifically for pilots and their unique work environment, noting, “Our goal is to ensure that every pilot feels supported, understood and has access to the tools to help them succeed professionally and personally..”

This spring, the Federal Aviation Administration approved three more antidepressants for pilots: duloxetine (Cymbalta), venlafaxine (Effexor) and desvenlafaxine (Pristiq). While there will still be an observation period and additional protocols, this move shows a trend toward more encouragement for flight crews to seek mental health help. When Simple Flying contacted us for this article, an FAA spokesperson highlighted the recent change:

“The FAA’s primary obligation is passenger safety. That includes ensuring pilots have access to the psychological support they need to perform their jobs safely.”

“FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker created the Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Rulemaking Committee (ARC) last year to find ways to reduce barriers that prevent pilots from reporting and seeking treatment for mental health issues. The FAA is also hiring more mental health professionals, supporting industry-wide research, and providing more education and outreach to pilots.

“The FAA encourages pilots to seek help if they have a mental illness because most mental illnesses, when treated, do not disqualify someone from flying. In fact, only about 0.1% of medical certificate applicants who disclose health problems are denied. Early treatment of these conditions is important, and that is why the FAA has approved more antidepressants for pilots and air traffic controllers.”

Photo: YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV | Shutterstock

There is still a lot of work to be done in this area. Speaking to Simple Flying, Captain Dennis Tajer, spokesman for the Allied Pilots Association (which represents American Airlines pilots), noted that the FAA’s process for re-certifying a pilot’s fitness to fly after treatment for mental health issues still needs improvement. According to Tajer, the fact that it can take a year or two for re-certification paperwork to be processed even if an FAA-designated doctor declares the pilot fit to fly can lead pilots to hide problems that could be resolved with proper treatment.

Now the Emersons are supporting a non-profit called Clear Skies Ahead to prevent such incidents from happening in the future. The group wants to fund research to help make future improvements to the current system, including ensuring that aviation professionals who receive effective treatment can continue to work. Others need to ensure they are offered adequate financial support if they are laid off from the workforce, and there needs to be a transparent process to ensure those affected can either return to flying safely or move into alternative roles.