Off-duty pilot faces 83 attempted murder charges after allegedly trying to crash plane – what we know

Joseph Emerson, 44, an off-duty pilot allegedly employed by Alaska Airlines, could spend a long time behind bars. According to a report from TMZ on Monday, October 23, he was arrested in Multnomah County, Oregon, after officials said he attempted to shut down a plane’s engines mid-flight, endangering the lives of 83 passengers.

Read on to find out what we know so far about the strange incident.

What we know about the flight.

According to ABC News, the flight in question reportedly went from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, California, on Sunday, October 23, before being diverted mid-flight to Portland, Oregon. A “credible safety threat related to an authorized occupant in the fold-down cabin seat” was to blame, the airline confirmed to the news outlet.

TMZ claims that the flight was actually operated by a sister airline: Horizon Airlines, which is supposedly owned by the company that operates Alaska Airlines.

What happened during the flight?

According to ABC, the suspect Emerson attempted to remove the fire extinguisher handles from the engines, according to the preliminary investigation. The flight crew, including the captain and first officer, reportedly subdued and subdued Emerson to prevent the plane from crashing.

Audio of the incident was also captured, according to TMZ. “We have the guy who tried to turn off the engines outside the cab and it doesn’t seem to cause any problems in the back at the moment, I think it’s turned off,” someone said in the clip. “We want the law to be enforced as soon as we get on the ground and park.” Vehicle also reported that police say Emerson was sitting in the cab’s jump seat when he attempted the alleged act.

ABC News reports that a federal official told them that Emerson was handcuffed to a seat until the plane landed.

What happens to the suspect now?

According to ABC News, the Port of Portland confirmed Monday that Joseph David Emerson was arrested for the alleged incident. According to the news, the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office says he is charged with 83 counts of attempted murder, as well as 83 counts of reckless endangerment, and finally, a misdemeanor count of endangering an aircraft .