An off-duty pilot is facing 83 charges of attempted murder after he allegedly attempted to shut down the engines of an Alaska Airlines flight mid-air. The incident occurred on a flight from Everett, Washington to San Francisco, operated by the regional carrier Horizon Air.
The off-duty pilot, Joseph David Emerson, was seated in the jump seat behind the pilot and co-pilot when he reportedly tried to shut down the engines. He allegedly pulled the fire suppression handle, which would have armed the fire extinguishing system and shut off fuel, electricity, and control systems to the engines.
However, the two able-bodied pilots in the front seat were able to thwart Emerson's efforts and successfully diverted the plane to Portland, where Emerson was arrested. He now faces 83 counts of attempted murder, as his actions put the lives of everyone on board at risk.
While it may be shocking to hear that a pilot attempted such a dangerous act mid-flight, aviation experts believe it would be difficult for someone to cause significant harm to the aircraft from the jump seat. Jim Gray, who has been training pilots for over three decades, stated that it would be challenging for someone to come up from the jump seat and do anything truly debilitating to the aircraft.
The use of jump seats is a routine practice in the aviation industry, allowing pilots to ride in the cockpit back to their home base when their work shift is over, as long as the jump seat is available. Emerson had a legitimate reason to be in the cockpit, but interfering with the aircraft was not part of his job.
This incident highlights the importance of stringent security measures and background checks within the aviation industry. As flying remains one of the safest modes of transportation, incidents like these remind us of the need to maintain vigilance and ensure the safety of all passengers and crew members on board.
Source: Youtube
