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Ex-Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson Hugs Wife After Released From Custody
By David Propper | December 7, 2023
The former Alaska Airlines pilot who allegedly attempted to shut down the engines of a passenger flight hugged his wife tightly after posting bail on Thursday. Joseph Emerson, who pleaded not guilty to charges of reckless endangerment, was warned by Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Ryan to stay clear of planes ahead of his trial.
The 44-year-old California man was ordered to not come within 30 feet of an operable aircraft and to undergo mental health services, as well as abstain from drugs or alcohol. Emerson was initially hit with more serious attempted murder charges after he tried to activate the jet’s fire suppression handles in the middle of a flight from Everett, Washington to San Francisco, California in October.
Emerson, who was off-duty and riding in the cockpit, was quickly stopped and the plane diverted to Portland, Oregon. He told police after his arrest that he had been struggling with depression and had taken psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours before attempting to cut the plane’s engines. He also stated that he had not slept in 40 hours leading up to the flight.
Emerson also pleaded not guilty to a federal charge tied to the case, and had to post $5,000 to be released. Footage posted on social media by an ABC News reporter showed Emerson and his wife hugging as he held two paper bags in his hands and buried his face in her shoulder. He then hugged other loved ones before leaving the jail’s lobby.
Before the heartwarming reunion, his wife Sarah Stretch expressed her happiness that her husband was coming home. She believes that the case is raising awareness for the issue of pilots’ mental health. One of his defense lawyers, Noah Horst, expressed his belief that his client should not be held criminally liable because he did not consciously choose to put about 80 passengers in danger.
The case has undoubtedly raised concerns and highlighted the importance of mental health services for pilots.
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