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Former Alaska Pilot Pleads Guilty to Engine Shutdown Attempt

Joseph Emerson admits to pulling fire handles midflight in 2023 incident.

Saturday, September 06, 2025 at 05:27 PM ET

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Horizon Air E175 at Paine Field [AirlineGeeks/Katie Zera]

Key Takeaways:

Former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson pleaded guilty to federal charges for attempting to shut down the engines of a Horizon Air flight on October 22, 2023, while riding in the jumpseat.
The flight crew successfully reset controls and restrained Emerson, allowing the plane with over 80 people on board to safely divert to Portland International Airport.
In Oregon state court, Emerson received a sentence including time served, five years probation, community service, and approximately $60,000 in restitution after pleading no contest to 84 endangerment counts.
Emerson, who admitted to using a psychedelic drug before the incident, expressed regret; his federal sentencing is pending and could carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

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Former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson pleaded guilty Friday to federal charges after attempting to shut down the engines of a Horizon Air flight two years ago, according to the Associated Press.

Authorities said Emerson, 46, was riding in the flight deck jumpseat of Horizon Air Flight 2059 from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco on October 22, 2023, when he pulled the fire suppression handles.

Ryan is Group President of Firecrown Media’s Aviation Group, overseeing a portfolio that includes FLYING, AirlineGeeks, AVweb, Plane + Pilot, KITPLANES, and AircraftForSale.com. He founded AirlineGeeks.com in February 2013 and has more than a decade of experience across aviation media, airport operations, airline workforce planning, and Part 135 regulatory compliance. His experience ranges from time behind the yoke of a Cessna 172 to interviewing aviation industry executives. Ryan holds a B.S. in Air Transportation Management and an MBA from Arizona State University and is an adjunct instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.