Former Alaska/Horizon Air Pilot Sentenced to Time Served After Midflight Incident
Joseph David Emerson, a former Alaska Airlines (Horizon Air) pilot, will not serve additional prison time after attempting to disable a commercial aircraft while riding as an off‑duty passenger in the cockpit. On Nov. 17, U.S. District Judge Amy Baggio sentenced Emerson to time served and three years of supervised release, according to reporting from the Associated Press.
The incident occurred on Oct. 22, 2023, aboard Horizon Air Flight 2059, which was en route from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco with more than 80 people on board. The flight was diverted to Portland, Oregon, after Emerson allegedly tried to turn off the plane’s engines while seated in the cockpit. Crew members subdued him and the aircraft landed safely; Emerson spent 46 days in custody before being released pending trial in December 2023.
According to court documents, Emerson told investigators he had not slept for roughly 40 hours and had ingested psychedelic mushrooms, which he said triggered a nervous breakdown during the flight. In court he accepted responsibility: “I’m not a victim. I am here as a direct result of my actions,” he said, adding the episode had forced personal growth.
“Pilots are not perfect. They are human,” Judge Baggio said in federal court in Portland, noting that people sometimes need help.
Under a plea agreement and subsequent administrative actions, Emerson has been stripped of his FAA pilot and medical certificates and was terminated by Alaska Airlines. He faces financial penalties under the agreement—reports indicate fines could reach up to $250,000—and has agreed to pay restitution to victims, per the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Oregon.
Emerson’s attorneys emphasized the lasting consequences he faces despite avoiding further prison time, noting the loss of his career, reputation and federal conviction. In court, his wife, Sarah Stretch, spoke emotionally about his recovery and urged attention to how he has responded to the episode.
Earlier this year Emerson told CBS News he had turned to alcohol and “magic mushrooms” after the death of a close friend and that he experienced intense panic and fear in the cockpit. He later said he realized he had not been dreaming when he attempted to disable the aircraft, calling it “the most consequential three seconds” of his life.
The case has renewed public discussion about pilot mental health, fatigue, substance use and safety protocols in commercial aviation. The episode was also the subject of the August 2024 FX/Hulu documentary Lie to Fly, which examines industry practices and calls for reform.
Key consequences for Emerson:
- Sentence: Time served plus three years supervised release
- Administrative actions: FAA revoked pilot and medical certificates; fired by Alaska Airlines
- Financial: Fines reported up to $250,000 and restitution to victims
- Personal: Federal conviction and loss of career and professional standing
