Off-duty pilot who tried to shut off engines mid-flight ‘thought it was a dream’

An off-duty pilot who allegedly tried to shut down the engines of a plane mid-flight said he "thought it was a dream".

Joseph Emerson, from California, claimed that he had taken magic mushrooms 48 hours ahead of the incident on the Horizon Air flight from Everett, Washington state, to San Francisco. The Alaska Airlines pilot was riding in the extra seat in the cockpit when he tried cutting the engines on October 22.

Following his arrest, Emerson, 44, told Port of Portland police he had been struggling with depression, according to charging documents. He added that a friend had recently died and that he had taken psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours before he attempted to cut the engines.

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Emerson also told officers he had not slept in more than 40 hours.

After a brief struggle, Emerson left the cockpit and attendants put him in wrist restraints and seated him in the back of the aircraft which was diverted to Portland, the FBI said in an affidavit.

He has been indicted on 84 endangerment charges – for each person on the plane – and one charge of endangering an aircraft.

The grand jury decided not to indict Emerson on the more serious charges of attempted murder that he was initially booked on.

While Emerson’s attorneys applauded the grand jury’s decision not to charge him with 83 counts of attempted murder, they were disappointed to learn he had been charged at all because he had “no criminal intent,” according to the statement.

“Captain Emerson thought he was in a dream; his actions were taken in a single-minded effort to wake up from that dream and return home to his family,” his attorneys said in a statement.

According to an affidavit filed by prosecutors, Emerson told investigators he “had consumed ‘magic mushrooms’ approximately 48 hours prior” to the incident.

He took the mushrooms during a weekend getaway in Washington to commemorate the death of his best friend, he told the New York Times in a story published in November.

During the incident, he said he thought he was dreaming while commuting back to California in the cockpit jump seat of a Horizon Air flight.

The flight was diverted to Portland, Oregon.

Emerson was released from state custody with clear conditions, including that he not come within 30 feet of any operable aircraft.

He must also pay a $50,000 bail, is not allowed to consume any controlled substances including alcohol, and must submit to random testing.

Emerson may return home to California and is ordered engage in mental health services.

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