Horizon Air E175 at Paine Field [AirlineGeeks/Katie Zera]
Key Takeaways:
Former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson received three years of federal court supervision and five years of state probation for attempting to shut off an airliner's engines in mid-flight in 2023, avoiding prison time.
Emerson attributed his actions to a dreamlike state caused by psychedelic mushrooms, which he took to self-medicate for depression and lack of sleep, and has since expressed remorse.
The incident highlighted systemic barriers for pilots seeking mental health care, leading Emerson to co-found a nonprofit (Clear Skies Ahead) and prompting the FAA and NTSB to launch initiatives to encourage pilots to report and seek treatment without fear of losing their certificates.
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.
