Horizon Air E175 at Paine Field [AirlineGeeks/Katie Zera]
Key Takeaways:
Former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson received court supervision and probation, avoiding prison time, for attempting to shut off an airliner's engines in mid-flight in October 2023.
Emerson attributed his actions to a psychedelic-induced state, lack of sleep, and depression, having avoided seeking mental health treatment due to fear of losing his pilot certificate.
His case has highlighted systemic issues within aviation, prompting the FAA and NTSB to launch initiatives aimed at identifying and removing barriers that discourage pilots from reporting and seeking care for mental health issues.
Emerson co-founded "Clear Skies Ahead," a non-profit advocating for improved mental health support for pilots and working to change policies that could lead to long-term grounding for seeking help.
Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.
