Joseph Emerson, the off-duty pilot accused of attempting to hijack the engines of a Alaska Airlines Airplane in mid-flighthas come forward to explain what he considers to be “unbelievable” acts.
Emerson, who was sitting in the jump seat on the flight, attributed his actions to the influence of psychedelic mushroomsand at the same time expressed the desire to fly again.
In an interview with ABC News, speaking for the first time since he was charged with 84 criminal offenses in connection with the incident, Emerson revealed that his conduct was accompanied by serious mental stresswhich was enhanced by the ingestion of psychedelic mushrooms.
He struggled with deep grief after the loss of his best friend, also a pilot, and tried to cope with his grief by taking psychedelic mushrooms.
Emerson described feeling “trapped” and disconnected from reality after consuming the hallucinogenic substance a few days before the flight, and had difficulty distinguishing between reality and hallucination.
On October 22, 2023, while flying from Seattle to San Francisco, Emerson, 44, attempted to shut down the plane’s engines by pulling the fire extinguisher handles. As the plane rocketed through the sky, Emerson’s actions did not end there; he also attempted to pull an emergency exit lever before being overpowered by the flight crew. The crew’s quick response and decisive action led to an emergency landing in Portland, ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew.
Although Emerson met the FAA’s medical clearance requirements throughout her career, her breakdown and psychological distress drew attention to the enormous pressures and potential mental health problems faced by pilots.
The incident sparked a debate about the need for improved mental health care for pilots and raised questions about the adequacy of existing regulations and support systems.
Emerson, who was sitting in the jump seat on the flight, attributed his actions to the influence of psychedelic mushroomsand at the same time expressed the desire to fly again.
In an interview with ABC News, speaking for the first time since he was charged with 84 criminal offenses in connection with the incident, Emerson revealed that his conduct was accompanied by serious mental stresswhich was enhanced by the ingestion of psychedelic mushrooms.
He struggled with deep grief after the loss of his best friend, also a pilot, and tried to cope with his grief by taking psychedelic mushrooms.
Emerson described feeling “trapped” and disconnected from reality after consuming the hallucinogenic substance a few days before the flight, and had difficulty distinguishing between reality and hallucination.
On October 22, 2023, while flying from Seattle to San Francisco, Emerson, 44, attempted to shut down the plane’s engines by pulling the fire extinguisher handles. As the plane rocketed through the sky, Emerson’s actions did not end there; he also attempted to pull an emergency exit lever before being overpowered by the flight crew. The crew’s quick response and decisive action led to an emergency landing in Portland, ensuring the safety of all passengers and crew.
Although Emerson met the FAA’s medical clearance requirements throughout her career, her breakdown and psychological distress drew attention to the enormous pressures and potential mental health problems faced by pilots.
The incident sparked a debate about the need for improved mental health care for pilots and raised questions about the adequacy of existing regulations and support systems.
