- Reaction score
- 1,699
Court document says pilot had been dealing with depression, loss of friend
An off-duty airline pilot riding in an extra cockpit seat on a Horizon Air flight last weekend said "I'm not OK" just before trying to cut the engines mid-flight and later told police he had been struggling with depression, according to charging documents made public Tuesday.
State prosecutors in Oregon filed 83 counts of attempted murder against Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph David Emerson, 44, on Tuesday just before he appeared in court with his attorney, Noah Horst, entering not guilty pleas on his behalf.
Federal prosecutors meanwhile charged Emerson with interfering with a flight crew, which can carry up to 20 years in prison.
According to a probable cause statement filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, Emerson told Port of Portland police following his arrest on Sunday that he had been struggling with depression, that a friend had recently died and that he had taken psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours before he attempted to cut the engines. He also said he had not slept in more than 40 hours, according to the document.
An off-duty airline pilot riding in an extra cockpit seat on a Horizon Air flight last weekend said "I'm not OK" just before trying to cut the engines mid-flight and later told police he had been struggling with depression, according to charging documents made public Tuesday.
State prosecutors in Oregon filed 83 counts of attempted murder against Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph David Emerson, 44, on Tuesday just before he appeared in court with his attorney, Noah Horst, entering not guilty pleas on his behalf.
Federal prosecutors meanwhile charged Emerson with interfering with a flight crew, which can carry up to 20 years in prison.
According to a probable cause statement filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court, Emerson told Port of Portland police following his arrest on Sunday that he had been struggling with depression, that a friend had recently died and that he had taken psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours before he attempted to cut the engines. He also said he had not slept in more than 40 hours, according to the document.
