An Alaska Airlines flight en route to San Francisco was forced to divert to Portland, Oregon, after an off-duty pilot attempted to disrupt the operation of the engines, according to a statement released by the airline. The suspect, identified as Joseph D. Emerson, was subdued by the flight crew and taken into custody by the Port of Portland police officers. Emerson has been charged with multiple counts including attempted murder and reckless endangerment. The incident occurred on Flight 2059, operated by Horizon Air, which reported a credible security threat related to the off-duty pilot who was traveling in the flight deck jump seat. Alaska Airlines revealed that the pilot attempted to shut down both engines by pulling the Embraer 175’s engine fire extinguisher handles. Thanks to the quick reaction of the captain and first officer, the engines did not fail completely. The FBI and Port of Portland are investigating the incident and Emerson is currently in custody. The rest of the passengers on Flight 2059 were able to travel on a later flight.
Shocking Incident: Off-Duty Pilot Attempts to Sabotage Alaska Airlines Flight’s Engines, Promptly Apprehended, Reveals Airline
