Alaska Airlines flight passengers left shaken after off-duty pilot attempted to cut the engines

In a startling mid-air incident, an Alaska Airlines flight found itself in the eye of a storm when an off-duty pilot attempted to play with the engines. This heart-pounding event left passengers in shock, only learning of the harrowing situation after their aircraft had safely touched down in Portland, Oregon.

The pilot in question, Joseph D. Emerson, occupied the fabled "jump seat" – a spot in the cockpit typically reserved for off-duty aviators and aviation aficionados. However, instead of enjoying a quiet ride, Emerson chose to embark on a peculiar mission. He stood up and made an audacious attempt to activate the fire suppression handles, a move that could have cut off fuel to the aircraft's engines. Thankfully, the vigilant flight crew stepped in, thwarting his unconventional plan.

As the aircraft approached Portland, the unexpected turn of events led to Emerson's apprehension and subsequent arrest on over 80 counts of attempted murder.


One of the plane's pilots told an air traffic controller that "we've got the guy that tried to shut the engines down out of the cockpit, and he doesn't sound like he's causing issues in the back right now," according to an audio recording posted on LiveATC.net, which shares live and archived recordings of air-traffic-control radio transmissions.

"I think he is subdued," the pilot added.

This flight, which carried a load of 80 passengers along with a dedicated crew of four, Everett, Washington around 5:23 p.m. and was destined for San Francisco.

The incident left passengers with a mixture of emotions, and Aubrey Gavello, one of the passengers, recounted that after Emerson's removal, the flight attendant addressed them over the intercom, explaining, "He had a mental breakdown, and we needed to get him off the plane immediately."

The Federal Aviation Administration is currently delving into the incident, seeking to uncover the truth behind this gripping tale of aviation intrigue.

Inputs from NYT