Moment drugged-up pilot makes an attempt to fly airplane with 80 passengers on board

Off-duty pilot Joseph Emerson, who admitted to taking psychedelic mushrooms and suffering a severe mental health crisis, was sentenced to time served and three years of supervised release

A pilot has been sentenced to supervised release after putting 80 lives at risk mid-flight. After admittingly taking psychedelic substances, the convicted criminal attempted to shut down engines during a severe mental health crisis.

Joseph Emerson was off-duty when he reportedly tried to shut down the engines mid-flight on a San Francisco-bound Alaska Airlines plane. Emerson, who later admitted to taking psychedelic mushrooms and suffering a mental health crisis, was escorted off the flight in handcuffs after the crew safely landed in Portland, USA.

A shocking new audio has been released, in which the incident from the cockpit of the Alaska Airlines flight could be heard.

According to reports, Emerson forced an emergency landing in October 2023, during a flight heading to San Francisco when he tried to shut down the engines. The pilot was reportedly off-duty at the time.

Moreover, he was riding in the jumpseat, a small, fold-down seat in the cockpit or cabin of an aircraft, typically used by off-duty pilots, when he tried to pull the fire suppression handles. Released dash cam footage, photos, videos, and police reports helped reconstruct the in-flight emergency on Horizon flight 2095 from Everett, Washington to San Francisco, ABC reported.

Audio from the incident that unfolded in the cockpit revealed Emerson saying: “I’m not okay” and “I gotta get home”. The cabin crew subsequently then told air traffic control: “It’s Horizon 2095.

“We got a jump seater, just tried to shut our engines off, we need to go direct to Portland, now.” Fortunately, the potential disaster was avoided as the quick-thinking flight crew managed to bring the plane down safely at Portland International Airport.

Emerson was promptly arrested, dragged off the plane, and questioned by police. He reportedly went on to confess to investigators that he’d taken psychedelic mushrooms just two days earlier and hadn’t slept for 48 hours.

Video footage captured an interaction with an officer from the back of a police vehicle, in which the officer said: “Okay man, what’s going on?” Emerson replied: “I’m having a nervous breakdown.

“I don’t really know why. I thought I was dreaming, man.

“And I just want to wake up, but I’m feeling right now. This is very real.”

The officer consequently responded: “So, were you trying to kill yourself?” And Emerson shared: “I was trying to wake up.

“Cause I don’t feel like this is real.” Just last month, a federal judge sentenced Emerson with time already served behind bars and three years of supervised release, as per ABC.

Nevertheless, the judge warned the courtroom this incident is a wake-up call, not just about keeping our skies safe, but about the dangers of hallucinogenic drugs. Emerson struck a plea deal, dodging further jail time but landing under strict supervision for his part in the scandal.

Emerson admitted he never reached out for help, terrified it would lead to the end of his flying days. Since the mid-air drama, he’s launched a new charity, “Clear Skies Ahead”.

With his charity, Emerson reportedly aims to support pilots battling mental health struggles.

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