Prosecutors say ex-Alaska Airlines pilot’s wife tried to Cutting off Horizon Air flight’s engines Sitting on a jump chair in the cockpit on Thursday, she said she knew her husband was struggling with depression but was shocked by his arrest.
“This is not my Joe,” Sarah Strachey told reporters after attending her husband Joseph Emerson’s first appearance in federal court in Portland, Oregon.
“He would never do that. He would never do these things on purpose,” she added, her voice trembling. “That’s not the man I married.”
Emerson’s defense attorney, Ethan Levy, said Emerson was not suicidal or homicidal on the Horizon Air flight. “There was no intention to harm myself or others,” he said.
Levy added that Emerson wanted to thank the crew for their “timely and heroic actions.”
State and federal prosecutors allege Emerson was an off-duty pilot on Horizon Air Flight 2059 from Everett, Wash., to San Francisco on Sunday when he tried to activate the emergency fire suppression system while seated in the cockpit’s jump seat. After a brief struggle with the pilot, he left the cockpit and was placed in a wrist restraint at the rear of the plane, according to court documents.
The plane was diverted to Portland and landed safely with more than 80 people on board.
Emerson has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder as charged by the state. Meanwhile, federal prosecutors charged Emerson with interfering with the crew, which carries a penalty of up to 20 years in prison.
Police said in charging documents that Emerson told them he had a breakdown, had been battling depression and had not slept in 40 hours.
Emerson is quoted in charging documents as saying that a friend of his had recently died. His defense attorney Levy clarified Thursday that his friend, who was the best man at his wedding, actually died about six years ago.
Emerson also said he took psychedelic mushrooms for the first time about 48 hours ago. The pilot and others who encountered Emerson said he did not appear to be drunk, according to court documents.
The FBI affidavit said Emerson, who was authorized to sit in a jump seat in the cockpit as an off-duty pilot, was with the captain and co-pilot as the plane flew between Astoria, Ore., and Portland, Ore. Had a casual conversation and then tried to catch two red planes. A handle that activates the aircraft’s fire-extinguishing system and cuts fuel to the engine.
The FBI said the struggle described by the crew lasted only about 30 seconds before Emerson left the cockpit.
Flight attendants strapped Emerson’s wrists and placed him in the back of the plane, but he tried to grab the emergency exit handle as the plane descended, documents said. A flight attendant allegedly put his hands on his to stop him.
Alaska Airlines said Tuesday that Emerson has been relieved of all positions. The airline said he last flew a flight on October 19, three days before the Horizon incident.
Emerson joined Horizon in 2001 as a co-pilot. In 2012, he went to work for Virgin America, which was acquired by Alaska Airlines in 2016. Emerson was promoted to captain in 2019.
Disasters averted have been A renewed focus on mental health Persons permitted to enter the cockpit.
Alaska Airlines said Emerson met all requirements for the medical exam and “his certification has never been denied, suspended or revoked.”
Emerson will remain in custody.
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