A pilot riding in the extra seat in the cockpit of a passenger jet tried to shut down the engines in midflight and had to be subdued by the two pilots Sunday, according to Alaska Airlines and officials.
The San Francisco-bound flight was being operated by Alaska subsidiary Horizon Air from Everett, Wash., to San Francisco on Sunday when it was diverted to Portland, Ore., where it was met by law enforcement officers.
Authorities in Portland identified the man as Joseph David Emerson, 44. He was being held Monday on dozens of counts of attempted murder and reckless endangerment, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon.
Alaska Airlines said Monday that the crew reported “a credible security threat related to an authorized occupant in the flight deck jump seat.” The airline said in a statement that no weapons were involved.
Get New England news, weather forecasts and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NECN newsletters.
"The jump seat occupant unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt the operation of the engines," the airline said. "The Horizon Captain and First Officer quickly responded, engine power was not lost and the crew secured the aircraft without incident."
One of the pilots told air traffic controllers that the man who posed the threat had been removed from the cockpit.
“We’ve got the guy that tried to shut the engines down out of the cockpit. And he — doesn’t sound like he’s causing any issue in the back right now, and I think he’s subdued," one of the pilots said on audio captured by LiveATC.com. "Other than that, we want law enforcement as soon as we get on the ground and parked.”
U.S. & World
The incident occurred on a 76-seat Embraer 175 plane. Alaska Airlines did not immediately say how many passengers were on board.
When the jump seat, a third seat in the cockpit, is occupied it’s often filled by an off-duty pilot, but the seat can be used by other airline employees or federal safety inspectors.
