In a chilling incident aboard an Alaska Airlines flight, new audio recording sheds light on the terrifying moments when an off-duty pilot attempted to take down the plane. The recording reveals the reactions of the flight’s actual pilot, describing the off-duty pilot’s actions as going “overboard.”
Key Takeaway
An off-duty pilot’s attempt to sabotage an Alaska Airlines flight has been captured in a chilling audio recording. The incident highlights the swift and effective response of the flight crew in averting a potential disaster. Investigations are ongoing in order to understand the motive behind the off-duty pilot’s actions.
The Start of the Terrifying Incident
The audio captures the moments following 44-year-old Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson’s alleged attempt to shut off the engines of the Horizon Airlines jet. Emerson was seated in a jump seat in the cockpit as a courtesy, as Horizon and Alaska Airlines are both managed by the same company.
The recording documents the pilot’s efforts to remove Emerson from the cockpit and subdue him in the back of the aircraft. The pilot urgently requests law enforcement to be present upon their arrival in Portland, where the plane was eventually diverted due to Emerson’s alarming behavior.
A Harrowing Situation Resolved
According to the pilot’s communication with air traffic control, Emerson was handcuffed and had somewhat calmed down since his initial outburst. However, the pilot emphasizes that the threat level was initially categorized as a level 4, the highest level indicating a potential breach of the cockpit.
Emerson now faces serious charges, including 83 counts of attempted murder, one for each person on board, 83 counts of reckless endangerment, and endangering an aircraft. The flight, which was originally en route from Everett, WA to San Francisco, was significantly disrupted by Emerson’s actions.
The off-duty pilot allegedly attempted to pull levers that would have triggered an emergency shutdown of the engines. Fortunately, the captain and first officer were able to prevent him from achieving his dangerous objective.
