‘High on mushrooms’: Cockpit audio captures Alaska Airlines pilot’s mid-air attempt to shut down engines | Watch

New cockpit audio reveals chaos as off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot tried to shut engines off mid-flight

A dramatic cockpit audio recording has surfaced documenting the tense moments when former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson attempted to shut down the engines of a packed Horizon Air flight in October 2023.

Emerson, who was off-duty and riding in the cockpit jump seat, allegedly tried to pull the fire-suppression handles mid-flight while the Embraer E75 jet was en route from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco with 84 people on board.

According to investigators, Emerson was severely sleep-deprived, and under the lingering influence of psychedelic mushrooms he had taken two days earlier. The handles he reached for were designed to cut off fuel to the engines in case of fire.

The cockpit audio captures the seconds leading up to the struggle. A pilot can be heard asking, “What’s that? What’s wrong? You wanna be home?” Moments later, sounds of a scuffle erupt, followed by a frantic radio call: “Horizon, we need to make an emergency landing… we got a jump seater just tried to shut our engines off. We need to go direct to Portland now.”

NEW: Audio footage released revealing the moment an Alaska Airlines pilot tried shutting off the engines of a plane with 84 people on board mid-flight. Joseph Emerson was tripping on mushrooms when he tried to crash the plane. At the time of the incident, Emerson was off duty… pic.twitter.com/7s04K26jyE

— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 11, 2025

Emerson was restrained by the pilot and co-pilot as the crew initiated an emergency diversion to Portland. Air traffic control audio shows the crew assessing the situation, reporting that the threat had escalated to a Level 4 before Emerson was subdued and handcuffed in a rear jump seat.

A video later showed local prosecutors escorting Emerson off the aircraft in handcuffs after the plane landed safely. In statements to police, he said he had not slept in 40 hours, believed he was “dreaming,” and thought pulling the handles would “wake me up.”

He told CBS News he was in a “dream” or “dissociative state,” later acknowledging: “It didn’t wake me up, right. I was in reality. I know that now… It’s the most consequential three seconds of my life.”

The incident occurred amid Emerson’s grief over a friend’s death. The full flight reportedly led to him being seated in the cockpit jump seat, according to CBS News.

Emerson ultimately pleaded guilty or no contest to a series of state and federal charges, including interfering with a flight crew and 83 counts of endangering another person. He was sentenced to time served, 46 days in jail, along with probation, supervised release, community service, and mandatory drug, alcohol, and mental health treatment. He was also ordered to stay away from aircraft.

During sentencing, the judge noted, “Pilots are not perfect. They are human. They are people, and all people need help sometimes.” Emerson expressed remorse, telling the court he deeply regretted his actions.

The Horizon Air flight landed safely without injuries after the crew’s swift intervention.