Former Alaska Airlines pilot avoids prison time for 2023 in-flight incident

A former Alaska Airlines pilot who tried to disable a passenger jet’s engines while riding in the cockpit jumpseat in 2023 will not serve additional prison time, a federal judge ruled on November 17, 2025. Joseph David Emerson, 46, received credit for time served and three years of supervised release at a hearing in Portland, Oregon. 

Emerson had been off duty on October 22, 2023, when he attempted to pull two engine fire-suppression handles on a Horizon Air Embraer 175 flying from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco. The action would have cut fuel to both engines. The crew restrained Emerson, and the flight diverted safely to Portland with no injuries reported. 

According to court records, Emerson told investigators he had been experiencing a mental health crisis, had not slept for roughly 40 hours and was unsure whether he was dreaming. He said he had taken psychedelic mushrooms several days before the incident. He pleaded guilty in September 2025 to interfering with a flight crew, a federal charge that carried a potential prison sentence of up to 20 years. 

A state case brought separate charges, including endangering an aircraft and 83 counts of endangering another person. Emerson previously pleaded no contest to those charges and was sentenced to probation and 50 days in jail. Monday’s federal sentence concludes the criminal proceedings. 

During the hearing, the judge said Emerson’s conduct occurred during a severe mental health episode and noted that he immediately cooperated with the crew once the situation became clear. After the pilots restrained him during the flight, Emerson told flight attendants they needed to secure him so he could not attempt to cause further harm. The incident lasted about 90 seconds. 

The case concludes as Congress considers the Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill that cleared the US House in September 2025 and is now awaiting action in the Senate. The legislation would direct the FAA to update its mental-health policies for pilots and improve access to treatment without fear of losing medical certification. The bill has not yet been signed into law. 

Emerson addressed the court before the sentence was issued, saying he accepted responsibility for his actions and regretted the disruption and concern caused to passengers, crew members and the aviation community. He no longer holds a pilot certificate and, according to court filings, has taken on non-aviation work while pursuing substance-abuse counseling and outreach programs. The post Former Alaska Airlines pilot avoids prison time for 2023 in-flight incident appeared first on AeroTime.

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