Current:Home > NewsEx-Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to cut plane’s engines indicted on endangerment charges-InfoLens
Ex-Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to cut plane’s engines indicted on endangerment charges
View Date:2024-12-23 15:04:06
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The former Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to cut the engines of a Horizon Air flight has been indicted on 84 endangerment charges, but is no longer charged with attempted murder, authorities said Tuesday.
The district attorney’s office in Oregon’s Multnomah County, home to Portland, announced the grand jury’s indictment. Joseph Emerson is scheduled to be arraigned Thursday on 83 charges of recklessly endangering another person — for each person who was on the plane — and one charge of endangering an aircraft. He previously pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges filed by state prosecutors and to a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew.
In Oregon, initial felony charges can be filed by prosecutors pending a grand jury’s indictment. Such indictments can include different charges, depending on what the grand jury believes is supported by the evidence.
Emerson’s defense lawyers welcomed the grand jury’s decision.
“The attempted murder charges were never appropriate in this case because Captain Emerson never intended to hurt another person or put anyone at risk – he just wanted to return home to his wife and children,” his defense lawyers Ethan Levi, Noah Horst and Norah Van Dusen said in a statement. “Simply put: Captain Emerson thought he was in a dream.”
Prosecutors have accused Emerson of trying to cut the engines on an Oct. 22 flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco while riding in the extra seat in the cockpit. After what the flight crew described as a brief struggle, Emerson left the cockpit, the FBI said in an affidavit. Flight attendants placed Emerson in wrist restraints and seated him in the rear of the aircraft, the affidavit said.
The plane was diverted to Portland, where it landed safely with more than 80 people on board.
According to charging documents, Emerson told Port of Portland police following his arrest that he had been struggling with depression, that a friend had recently died and that he had taken psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours before he attempted to cut the engines. He also said he had not slept in more than 40 hours, according to the document.
The averted disaster renewed attention on cockpit safety and the mental fitness of those allowed in them.
Emerson remains in custody in Multnomah County.
veryGood! (979)
Related
- 'Underbanked' households more likely to own crypto, FDIC report says
- Prosecutors say US Army analyst accused of selling military secrets to China used crypto
- Deal Alert: Get 25% Off Celeb-Loved Kiehl’s Skincare Products in Their Exclusive Friends & Family Sale
- Hawaii firefighters get control of fire at a biomass power plant on Kauai
- Jury awards Abu Ghraib detainees $42 million, holds contractor responsible
- Meghan Markle Slams “Cruel” Bullying During Pregnancies With Her and Prince Harry’s Kids Archie and Lili
- The Most Shocking Moments in Oscars History, From Will Smith's Slap to La La Land's Fake Win
- Texas wildfire relief and donations: Here's how (and how not) to help
- Beyoncé has released lots of new products. Here's a Beyhive gift guide for the holidays
- Mexico-bound plane lands in LA in 4th emergency this week for United Airlines
Ranking
- King Charles III celebrates 76th birthday amid cancer battle, opens food hubs
- Psst! Coach Outlet Secretly Added Hundreds of New Bags to Their Clearance Section and We're Obsessed
- Government funding bill advances as Senate works to beat midnight shutdown deadline
- Washington state achieves bipartisan support to ban hog-tying by police and address opioid crisis
- Trump hammered Democrats on transgender issues. Now the party is at odds on a response
- Senate to vote on first government funding package to avoid shutdown
- Utah troopers stop 12-year-old driver with tire spikes and tactical maneuvers
- Utah man serenaded by Dolly Parton in final wish dies of colon cancer at 48
Recommendation
-
Exclusive Yankee Candle Sale: 50% Off Holiday Candles for a Limited Time
-
When an eclipse hides the sun, what do animals do? Scientists plan to watch in April
-
Spending bill would ease access to guns for some veterans declared mentally incapable
-
Israel-Hamas cease-fire unlikely before Ramadan as Hamas delegation leaves talks, but says they'll resume
-
Philadelphia mass transit users face fare hikes of more than 20% and possible service cuts
-
Roswell police have new patches that are out of this world, with flying saucers and alien faces
-
Dakota Johnson and Chris Martin Privately Got Engaged Years Ago
-
NFL free agency 2024: Ranking best 50 players set to be free agents