{"id":215718,"date":"2023-10-23T17:43:57","date_gmt":"2023-10-23T17:43:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestwnews.com\/?p=215718"},"modified":"2023-10-23T17:43:57","modified_gmt":"2023-10-23T17:43:57","slug":"pilots-divert-jet-in-portland-after-person-tried-to-shut-down-engines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestwnews.com\/world-news\/pilots-divert-jet-in-portland-after-person-tried-to-shut-down-engines\/","title":{"rendered":"Pilots divert jet in Portland after person tried to shut down engines"},"content":{"rendered":"
An off-duty pilot accused of trying to shut off the engines on a packed-out\u00a0Alaska Airlines passenger jet on Sunday has been charged with 83 counts of attempted murder.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Joseph David Emerson, 44, faces the litany of homicide charges along with an additional 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft, police documents show.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Emerson is believed to have been sat in the jump seat beside the operating pilot on board a Embraer 175 plane flying from Everett in suburban Seattle to San Francisco.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He is accused of attempting to deploy the fire suppression system before crew members managed to ‘subdue’ him and remove him from the controls, according to\u00a0the Federal Aviation Administration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Alaska Airlines said the flight, which departed Washington state at 5.23pm, was diverted to Portland\u00a0International Airport following the ‘security threat’.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n An off-duty pilot accused of trying to shut off the engines on a packed-out Alaska Airlines passenger jet on Sunday has been charged with 83 counts of attempted murder. (Pictured: an Alaska Airlines plane at the same airport in 2020)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Joseph David Emerson, 44, faces the litany of homicide charges along with an additional 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft, police documents show. (Pictured: the cockpit of a similar plane)\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘On Oct. 22, Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 operated by Horizon Air from Everett, WA (PAE) to San Francisco, CA (SFO) reported a credible security threat related to an authorized occupant in the flight deck jump seat,\u2032 Alaska Airlines said.<\/p>\n ‘The crew secured the aircraft without incident.<\/p>\n ‘We are grateful for the professional handling of the situation by the Horizon flight crew and appreciate our guests’ calm and patience throughout this event.’\u00a0<\/p>\n Live Air Traffic audio appears to show a pilot describing the person believed to be Emerson ‘subdued’ after the incident, suggesting there was a struggle.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘We’ve got the guy that tried to shut the engines down out of the cockpit and he doesn’t sound like he’s causing any issue in the back right now, I think he’s subdued,’ a pilot told air traffic controllers, according to audio recorded by Live ATC.\u00a0<\/p>\n ‘We want law enforcement as soon as we get on the ground and parked.’<\/p>\n Emerson was arrested by Port of Portland officials, and he is described in his booking sheet as a 6 foot 1 44-year-old bald white man with blue eyes, weighing 210lbs.\u00a0<\/p>\n HIs father John Emerson declined to comment when called by DailyMail.com on Monday.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n Alaska law enforcement is investigating. This is an unfolding news story.\u00a0<\/p>\n