An off-duty pilot is facing 167 charges including 83 counts of attempted murder for allegedly trying to shut down engines on Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 mid-air. On Sunday, October 22, the flight bound for San Francisco made an emergency diversion to Portland, Oregon, after Joseph Emerson, pulled the fire extinguisher handles in an attempt to shut off the engines. Following a safe landing at Portland airport, Emerson was taken into custody, according to CBS News. At the time of the incident, there were 80 passengers onboard along with four crew members.
According to the airline, the 44-year-old pilot was sitting in the cockpit’s jump seat and “unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt the operation of the engines.” This vile attempt was made after 30 minutes into the flight while the plane was approximately at 31,000 feet.
