Overview
- U.S. District Judge Amy Baggio sentenced Joseph Emerson to credit for 46 days served and three years of supervised release, rejecting prosecutors’ request for a one-year prison term.
- Emerson admitted in September to the federal charge of interfering with a flight crew and entered no-contest pleas to Oregon counts of endangering an aircraft and 83 counts of reckless endangerment.
- The October 2023 incident occurred in the cockpit jump seat on Horizon Air Flight 2059, where pilots restrained Emerson after he reached for red fire-suppression handles that could have cut fuel to both engines; the jet diverted to Portland and landed safely with 84 aboard.
- In the state case, he received five years of probation, 664 hours of community service, and about $60,000 in restitution, and his FAA pilot and medical certificates were revoked as Alaska Airlines terminated his employment.
- Court records say Emerson reported taking psilocybin two days earlier, going roughly 40–48 hours without sleep, and believing he was dreaming, while the episode has accelerated FAA mental-health reform efforts and House legislation directing changes to pilot medical certification.