A U.S. court has issued its decision in the case of former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph David Emerson, who attempted to shut down both engines during a Horizon Air flight in 2023. Emerson completed the federal proceedings without receiving any additional prison sentence.
The incident occurred on October 22, 2023, during the Everett–San Francisco flight. Emerson, seated in the jump seat, pulled the engine shutoff handles in an attempt to cut fuel to both engines, but the cockpit crew quickly intervened. The aircraft diverted to Portland and landed safely.
The federal court in Portland deemed Emerson’s 46 days in custody sufficient and imposed no further prison time, instead ordering three years of supervised release. In state court, he received five years of probation, community service, and approximately $60,000 in restitution.
In his defense, Emerson said he was sleep-deprived, under heavy stress, and affected by medication, and that he believed he was dreaming during the incident.
