Off-duty pilot tries to shut down engines mid-air, hit with 167 charges

Joseph David Emerson joined Alaska Airlines in 2001 as a first officer, before becoming a pilot. (Representational Image).

An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot was hit with 167 charges, including 83 counts of first-degree attempted murder-one for each passenger-after he tried to shut down the flight engines mid-air, a report in The Independent said.

Joseph David Emerson, 44, was travelling as a passenger on a Seattle to San Francisco flight when he tried to cut off the fuel supply to the engines. The flight had to be diverted to Portland, where he was arrested. Apart from the charges of attempted murder, he was also hit with 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft.

From the audio recordings of the flight, the pilot could be heard saying that he and the other crew members felt Emerson was "subdued" after the incident. "We've got the guy that tried to shut the engines down out of the cockpit. It doesn’t sound like he’s got any issue in the back right now. I think he’s subdued. Other than that we want law enforcement as soon as we get on the ground and parked," the pilot informed the traffic control.

As per authorities, all passengers on the flight escaped unhurt. Alaska Airlines said that the incident was being investigated and they were cooperating with the law enforcement officials, in the case.

As per rules, an off-duty pilot can fly in the cockpit jump seat with the pilot's permission. Emerson joined Alaska Airlines in 2001 as a first officer, before becoming a pilot.

Also read: Watch: Alaska Airlines flight's engine cover flies off, forcing an emergency landing