PORTLAND, Ore. — An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who police said tried to cut the engines on a jet midflight told investigators that he had not slept in 40 hours and had taken psychedelic mushrooms 48 hours before the flight.
Joseph David Emerson, 44, was initially arrested in Oregon on Sunday night after the flight crew reported that he attempted to shut down the engines on a Horizon Air flight while riding in the extra seat in the cockpit. Emerson lives in Pleasant Hill Calif. and grew up in Cheney, Washington.
There were 83 other people on board the flight, including 11 under the age of 14, according to a federal affidavit in support of the criminal complaint.
Emerson was charged with 83 counts of attempted murder in the second degree and one count of endangering an aircraft in the first degree in the Circuit Court in Multnomah County. Emerson pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder charges during his first court appearance Tuesday.
Emerson was also charged Tuesday with a federal count of interfering with a flight crew. The U.S. attorney’s office in Portland filed the charge.
Two pilots on the flight from Everett's Paine Field to San Francisco told police that before the incident Emerson had a casual conversation with them about types of aircraft. The pilot who was flying the aircraft told police there was "zero indication of anything wrong," according to the federal affidavit.
About halfway between Astoria, Ore. and Portland, Ore., one pilot said Emerson threw his headset across the cockpit and said, "I'm not OK," before grabbing the red fire handles and pulling them down partway. The handles activate the system used to put out aircraft engine fires. It would also shut off the fuel supply to the engines and turn the airplane into a "glider" in seconds, according to the affidavit.
RELATED: Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to cut engines had completed FAA medical certifications
The pilot who was flying the aircraft grabbed Emerson's wrist while the second pilot declared an inflight emergency and changed the plane's course to Portland.
The second pilot told investigators Emerson and the other pilot "wrestled" for several seconds before Emerson stopped and left the cockpit.
Flight attendants told investigators that Emerson walked "peacefully" to the back of the plane and told the flight attendants to "cuff me right now or it’s going to be bad.” The flight attendant put Emerson in a flight attendant seat at the back of the plane.
“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, and I think he’s subdued," one of the pilots said on audio captured by LiveATC.net. "Other than that, we want law enforcement as soon as we get on the ground and parked.”
As the plane descended into Portland, the flight attendant said Emerson tried to grab the handle of an emergency exit door, and she put her hands on his to stop him.
Another flight attendant said Emerson made statements, such as "I messed everything up" and that he "tried to kill everybody," according to the affidavit.
Emerson was taken into custody after the plane landed. In interviews with investigators, Emerson said he believed he was having a nervous breakdown. He told investigators he pulled the red handles because he thought he was dreaming and just wanted to wake up.
“I didn’t feel OK," Emerson told investigators. "It seemed like the pilots weren’t paying attention to what was going on. They didn’t … it didn’t seem right.”
Emerson said he had been depressed for about six months and wasn't taking any medication.
When the officer and Emerson talked about psychedelic mushrooms, Emerson said it was his first time taking them. He took them about 48 hours prior to the incident, according to the affidavit.
While psilocybin is illegal in most of the country — Oregon legalized it for adults this year — the Food and Drug Administration in 2018 designated it a “breakthrough therapy” that might be used for mental health conditions or substance use disorders.
In the Port of Portland police department, Emerson asked to waive his right to an attorney.
“I’m admitting to what I did," Emerson told investigators. "I’m not fighting any charges you want to bring against me, guys.”
According to Alaska Airlines, Emerson has been removed from services "indefinitely and relieved from all duties at Alaska Airlines."