Off-duty pilot charged with mid-flight attempt to disable plane's engines
Alaska Airlines pilot, Joseph Emerson, indicted on 84 counts in Oregon court for attempting to tamper with plane engines mid-flight
Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson was indicted on 84 counts in an Oregon court on Tuesday for allegedly attempting to shut off the engines of a passenger plane mid-flight. The grand jury charged Emerson with one count of endangering aircraft in the first degree and 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person, representing each person aboard the aircraft at the time of the October 22 incident.
"According to his attorneys, Captain Emerson's actions were driven by a single-minded determination to wake up from what he believed was a dream and reunite with his family," stated the attorneys. Emerson's arraignment is scheduled for December 7.
He also faces similar federal charges.
