Off-duty pilot in jump seat attempted to shut down engines on Horizon Airlines flight

[y_p_w]

Flight was scheduled for Everett-San Francisco. It made an emergency stop at PDX before continuing on to SFO. The statement from Alaska airlines make it sound like he was an Alaska Airlines pilot and not Horizon.

QX2059 (QXE2059) Horizon Flight Tracking and History 22-Oct-2023 (KPAE-KPDX) - FlightAware

Track Horizon (QX) #2059 flight from Snohomish County to Portland Intl

www.flightaware.com

Our statement on Alaska Airlines Flight 2059, operated by Horizon Air - Alaska Airlines News

Latest updates & information can be found here.

news.alaskaair.com

10 a.m. Pacific, Oct. 23​

​

On Oct. 22, Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 operated by Horizon Air from Everett, WA (PAE) to San Francisco, CA (SFO) reported a credible security threat related to an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who was traveling in the flight deck jump seat. The jump seat occupant unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt the operation of the engines. The Horizon Captain and First Officer quickly responded, engine power was not lost and the crew secured the aircraft without incident.​

​

Following appropriate FAA procedures and guidance from Air Traffic Control, the flight was safely diverted to Portland International Airport. The jump seat occupant is currently in custody and the event is being investigated by law enforcement authorities, which includes the FBI and the Port of Portland Police Department.​

​

All passengers on board were able to travel on a later flight. We are grateful for the professional handling of the situation by the Horizon flight crew and appreciate our guests’ calm and patience throughout this event.​

'20 minutes of pure hell' after off-duty pilot allegedly tried to shut off engines in midair

An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot riding on a flight out of Everett was subdued in-flight after allegedly attempting to shut down the plane's engines.

www.seattletimes.com

Off-duty pilot in cockpit tries to shut down engines midflight, charged in Portland with 83 counts attempted murder

Authorities identified the man as Joseph David Emerson, 44. He was being held Monday on 83 counts each of attempted murder and reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft.

www.oregonlive.com

Off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot charged with 83 counts of attempted murder in alleged engine shutdown attempt

The flight operated by an Alaska Airlines subsidiary bound for San Francisco diverted to Portland after an off-duty pilot tried to shut down the engines.

www.cnbc.com

 

[Dave Hess]

Yikes, very crazy.

Luckily he didn’t crash the aircraft.

 

[Dodgetracker]

He’s done…

 

[Astro14]

He’s done…

In more ways than one…charged with 83 counts of attempted murder.

 

[y_p_w]

Found the chatter.

 

[Astro14]

He’s done…

Let me add that this Alaskan pilot is lucky to be alive. I am very serious.

If a jumpseater tried to sabotage* an airplane, I would fully support the employment of lethal force to end that lethal threat.

*A clear, unambiguous, and lethal threat to all on board, as well as those on the ground nearby, and if either of the crew had been armed (and many are, google the FFDO program), this could have ended quite differently.

 

[Pablo]

Motivation?

 

[y_p_w]

Not sure why there's a moderator edit for my original post. I posted two different FlightAware entries for Horizon 2059. The first one was for the PAE-PDX leg with the emergency landing. The second was a separate entry for PDX-SFO. The entries were different although I don't have access to the tail number. One of the stories claims that they changed to a different plane though.

QX2059 (QXE2059) Horizon Flight Tracking and History 22-Oct-2023 (KPDX-KSFO) - FlightAware

Track Horizon (QX) #2059 flight from Portland Intl to San Francisco Int'l

www.flightaware.com

 

[Chester11]

Side note - at each freq change, these poor guys were asked for details. Not a pilot here, but the approach guy looking for info for his report would be low priority.

 

[twouvakind]

May have been a different outcome if the would be saboteur was a FFDO, I never knew of the service. I see no mention of psychological screening for FFDO's.

 

[Astro14]

May have been a different outcome if the would be saboteur was a FFDO, I never knew of the service. I see no mention of psychological screening for FFDO's.

FFDOs go through a psychological screen and extensive background check. I don’t know where you are getting the “no mention” claim.

So do pilots, at least, at my airline.

As far is the rest, your fears are unfounded, but I prefer not to talk about some security issues and procedures in a public forum.

 

[Astro14]

Not sure why there's a moderator edit for my original post. I posted two different FlightAware entries for Horizon 2059. The first one was for the PAE-PDX leg with the emergency landing. The second was a separate entry for PDX-SFO. The entries were different although I don't have access to the tail number. One of the stories claims that they changed to a different plane though.

QX2059 (QXE2059) Horizon Flight Tracking and History 22-Oct-2023 (KPDX-KSFO) - FlightAware

Track Horizon (QX) #2059 flight from Portland Intl to San Francisco Int'l

www.flightaware.com

I wouldn’t be flying another leg if that happened to me. So, I’m not certain that the second leg is germane to the story.

 

[y_p_w]

I wouldn’t be flying another leg if that happened to me. So, I’m not certain that the second leg is germane to the story.

I just heard (was in a different article) that the passengers transferred to another plane to continue. I thought it might be important in the investigation if they might have grounded the plane to inspect it. I believe PDX is an Alaska/Horizon hub.

 

[wpod]

Motivation?

At the moment it seemed the fun thing to do? It will be interesting if we ever find out the truth. If one wants to kill one self do not bring others with you.

 

[fdcg27]

I would be willing to wager a paycheck that this guy had some sort of mental break, perhaps enhanced by the use of what may have been a perfectly legal prescription drug.
Nobody taking should be using any psychotropic without being honest with the prescribing physician as well as having a full grasp of potential side effects and this guy may have been.
Wonderful that the flight was saved from disaster by its two pilots.

 

[y_p_w]

I would be willing to wager a paycheck that this guy had some sort of mental break, perhaps enhanced by the use of what may have been a perfectly legal prescription drug.
Nobody taking should be using any psychotropic without being honest with the prescribing physician as well as having a full grasp of potential side effects and this guy may have been.
Wonderful that the flight was saved from disaster.

Ambien has resulted in some pretty crazy things, although I understand that there's a minimum time before a pilot is allowed to fly.

I'd think some sort of mental illness happened, unless he really had a death wish.

 

[twouvakind]

FFDOs go through a psychological screen and extensive background check. I don’t know where you are getting the “no mention” claim.

So do pilots, at least, at my airline.

As far is the rest, your fears are unfounded, but I prefer not to talk about some security issues and procedures in a public forum.

My only source:

What Is The Federal Flight Deck Officer Program?

What’s the chance your pilot is carrying a firearm?

simpleflying.com

 

[twouvakind]

This DHS PDF mentions FFDO candidates meeting with a psychologist. I stand corrected.

 

[Exhaustgases]

This sort of thing has happened many times on the air disasters show. The bad ones are where the pilot gets locked out of the cockpit.
No matter there still needs to be a way to get in there if someone does take control.

 

[Danh]

Let me add that this Alaskan pilot is lucky to be alive. I am very serious.

If a jumpseater tried to sabotage* an airplane, I would fully support the employment of lethal force to end that lethal threat.

*A clear, unambiguous, and lethal threat to all on board, as well as those on the ground nearby, and if either of the crew had been armed (and many are, google the FFDO program), this could have ended quite differently.

Let me add that this Alaskan pilot is lucky to be alive. I am very serious.

If a jumpseater tried to sabotage* an airplane, I would fully support the employment of lethal force to end that lethal threat.

*A clear, unambiguous, and lethal threat to all on board, as well as those on the ground nearby, and if either of the crew had been armed (and many are, google the FFDO program), this could have ended quite differently.

Let me add that this Alaskan pilot is lucky to be alive. I am very serious.

If a jumpseater tried to sabotage* an airplane, I would fully support the employment of lethal force to end that lethal threat.

*A clear, unambiguous, and lethal threat to all on board, as well as those on the ground nearby, and if either of the crew had been armed (and many are, google the FFDO program), this could have ended quite differently.

Yes. Discharging a firearm in the confines of a pressurized cockpit while at altitude could have resulted in a different outcome.