An off-duty pilot has been charged with 83 counts of attempted murder – after he allegedly tried to crash an Alaska Airlines flight to San Francisco by shutting down the engine.
The pilot, identified by police as Joseph David Emerson, 44, was sitting in the cockpit seat – located behind the captain and first officer – when he tried to activate the jet’s fire suppression system mid-flight, the airline said in a statement.
If he succeeds, he will cut off the fuel flow to the engine.
“When pulled, the valve on the wing closes to shut off the fuel to the engine. After it was pulled, some residual fuel remained in the line, and our crew’s quick response to reset the handle restored fuel flow and prevented fuel starvation,” explained an Alaska Airlines spokesperson.
The flight captain and first officer managed to subdue suspect Emerson, who was off duty but authorized to sit in the cockpit as an employee of the airline.
Flight 2059 is operated by Horizon Air, a regional airline owned by Alaska Airlines. It departs from Everett, Wash. just before 5:30 pm Sunday.
“The occupants of the jump seat did not succeed in trying to interfere with the operation of the engine. The Horizon Captain and First Officer responded immediately, engine power was not lost and the crew rescued the aircraft without incident,” an Alaska Airlines spokesperson told the Post.
Off-duty pilot Joseph David Emerson was arrested and charged with 83 counts of attempted murder after he allegedly tried to shut down the jet’s engine mid-flight.Joseph Emerson/Facebook
The flight was forced to make an emergency detour to Portland International Airport, where the suspect was detained by Portland Harbor Police. No injuries were reported in the incident.
“The flight crew was able to detain the subject and the flight landed safely at Portland International Airport shortly before 6:30 p.m.,” according to Portland Port Police, who confirmed an ongoing investigation.
“The Port of Portland Police Department is working closely with our partners at the FBI, TSA, FAA and the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office.”
Emerson has been arraigned on several charges, including 83 counts of attempted first-degree murder, 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of endangering an aircraft in the first degree, the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office confirmed to the Post.
A spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said the agency was involved with both Alaska and Horizon Airlines and was “supporting the investigation into Sunday afternoon’s incident aboard a Horizon Airlines flight,” but declined to comment on the incident.
Emerson is currently in custody at the Multnomah County Detention Center in Portland, Ore. where he is awaiting trial, authorities said.
Horizon Air Flight 2059 was diverted to Portland International Airport en route to San Francisco after the incident.FlightAware
“The investigation into this matter is still active and is being coordinated between local, state and federal law enforcement agencies,” the district attorney’s office said.
The International Airline Pilots Association (ALPA) praised the flight crew for their quick actions to stop Emerson before the incident turned into a tragedy.
“The safety of the flying public and our crew is fundamental to everything we do, and we are cooperating fully with the authorities as they investigate this incident,” the association said when contacted by email.
ALPA calls the airline pilot profession “one of the most scrutinized and scrutinized careers,” noting that pilots are “assessed continuously throughout their career” through training and medical exams.
Any potential motive for Emerson’s actions was not known at press time. However, sources close to the investigation said they do not believe it was based on any kind of ideology or that current events in the Middle East played a role in his actions.
The FAA’s pilot database shows Emerson listed as a certified pilot who received a medical clearance last month. Pilots are expected to self-report any mental health conditions, two US pilots told Reuters.
In a statement, the Portland FBI office said it was investigating the incident and “can assure the traveling public there is no ongoing threat related to this incident.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
