Off-Duty Pilot, Who Tried To Shut Off Engines Mid-Flight While On Magic Mushrooms, Charged With 83 Counts Of Attempted Murder
Off-duty pilot Joseph D. Emerson has been charged with 83 counts of attempted murder after he attempted to disrupt the engines of an Alaska Airlines flight. The flight was en route from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco but had to divert to Portland, Oregon, because of the incident. Alaska Airlines called it a “credible security threat related to an authorized occupant in the flight deck jump seat” in their statement. Emerson had been suffering from depression and took magic mushrooms to help his symptoms. When he pleaded not guilty, he argued that the mushrooms were responsible for his ac...