The off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot, who stands accused of trying to disable the aircraft’s engines mid-flight, has informed investigators that he believed he was in the midst of a dream-like experience. This revelation comes from state court records obtained.
Joseph D. Emerson, aged 44, made an attempt to disrupt the flow of fuel to the plane’s engines while the flight was en route from Washington state to San Francisco on a Sunday. Authorities maintain that the swift response of the aircraft’s captain and first officer prevented a complete engine failure, as confirmed by the airline.
Emerson conveyed to investigators that he had ingested “magic mushrooms” approximately 48 hours prior to the plane incident, as detailed in an affidavit filed by prosecutors. Furthermore, he admitted to remaining awake for the past 40 hours, according to a separate federal court document.
Emerson explained to the police that he was under the impression he was ensnared in a dream-like state and believed that manipulating the fire extinguishing system handles – which are designed to cut off fuel to the aircraft’s engines – would serve as a means to “awaken” himself, according to information found in state court documents.
Emerson was occupying a jump seat in the cockpit, as is typically allowed for off-duty pilots. The confrontation began when he made an attempt to access the fire controls, as disclosed in the documents.
As Emerson reached for these controls, one of the pilots took hold of Emerson’s wrists, while the other pilot reported that they grappled with Emerson for a brief period before he ceased his actions, assuring them that he was alright. The documents add that Emerson was unable to fully engage the handles before the pilots intervened. who stands accused
The documents also reveal that Emerson had been grappling with depression and had recently experienced the loss of a friend. He mentioned that he was undergoing a nervous breakdown and conveyed to the flight crew that he needed to be restrained, as outlined in a separate federal criminal complaint.
It’s highly unlikely that psilocybin – sometimes called “magic mushrooms” – would still be in the pilot’s system 48 hours after use, but it’s possible he could have been feeling the lingering effects of the drug, said Matt Johnson, a Johns Hopkins professor who studies psychedelics and other drugs. Johnson likened mushroom use to drinking alcohol – while a person is no longer drunk the day after drinking, the hangover caused by alcohol could impair their behavior or ability to function.