Yesterday, Alaska Airlines Flight 2059, operated by Horizon Air, encountered a serious incident when an off-duty pilot attempted to shut down the engines mid-flight. The captain and first officer swiftly contained the situation, ensuring passenger and crew safety before rerouting to Portland International Airport, as confirmed in a statement by Alaska Airlines.
Joseph David Emerson, the off-duty pilot now is facing 83 counts of attempted murder and reckless endangerment, along with a charge of endangering an aircraft, according to ABC News. Surprised, his neighbors spoke in his defense, deeming him a great father and neighbor, per article by the tabloid Daily Mail.
Passengers onboard reported to ABC News that the crew managed the situation professionally, informing passengers of a medical emergency after subduing the suspect. Only after the safe landing was it revealed over the speaker system that Emerson had suffered a mental breakdown.
The neighbors in Pleasant Hill, California, described Emerson as an affectionate husband and father, exclaiming that they were shocked to believe he could do such a thing. Karen Yee, one of said neighbors, tearfully recounted the difficulty believing Emerson to intentionally harm anyone, according to the Daily Mail.
The Air Line Pilots Association, International, commended the crew for safely landing the aircraft. It reiterated that airline pilots in North America undergo intensive vetting and scrutiny. As the investigation proceeds, further insights are still to be revealed on the incident and possible motivations of Emerson.
