Horizon Jump Seater Dissatisfied with Service

[J]

Off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot charged after trying to stop plane engines midflight; flight diverted to PDX

Excerpt:

PORTLAND, Oregon — An Alaska Airlines flight bound for San Francisco had to be diverted to Portland International Airport (PDX) on Sunday after an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot attempted to "disrupt the operation of the engines," according to the carrier.

The plane departed from Everett, Washington, and was heading to San Francisco, California, on Oct. 22 when it reported a "credible security threat related to an authorized occupant in the flight deck jump seat," Alaska Airlines said. Two pilots were able to subdue the man before engine power was lost. They followed Federal Aviation Administration procedures and guidance from air traffic control and diverted the plane to PDX.

The Port of Portland arrested 44-year-old Joseph Emerson early Monday morning. He faces 83 counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment and endangering an aircraft.

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.”

https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/ ... 96c915ddba


Another article stated:

The FAA sent alerts to airlines after the Horizon Air incident saying “a validated jump seat passenger attempted to disable aircraft engines while at cruise altitude by deploying the engine fire suppressions system.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ma ... rcna121681

[Verbal]

Nothing in those reports indicating whether the pilot was drunk and naked.

[Not_Karl]

The FAA sent alerts to airlines after the Horizon Air incident saying “a validated jump seat passenger attempted to disable aircraft engines while at cruise altitude by deploying the engine fire suppressions system.”

Do we think he has been reading there?

[3WE]

The FAA sent alerts to airlines after the Horizon Air incident saying “a validated jump seat passenger attempted to disable aircraft engines while at cruise altitude by deploying the engine fire suppressions system.”

Do we think he has been reading there?

A distinct possibility. It’s about time a pilot listens to us!

[Not_Karl]

A distinct possibility. It’s about time a pilot listens to us!

Should we post a F.A.O.: Evanie there?

[J]

More.


As a pilot himself, this jumpseater would have been familiar with the layout of aircraft cockpits. Though the 737 and Embraer E175 have differences, the jumpseater could probably identify the fire suppression handles not only from his time in cockpits in general but also because, as an Alaska employee, he likely spent significant time in Embraer cockpits while traveling.

Who is the Perpetrator?
The jumpseat pilot has been identified as Alaska Airlines 737 captain Joseph Emerson, who was commuting to San Francisco to operate a flight. Alaska reports that Emerson flew for Horizon Air from 2001 to 2012, at which time he left Horizon to fly for Virgin America.

Emerson returned to Alaska when it merged with Virgin America in 2016 and eventually upgraded to the role of Captain at Alaska in 2019.

Significant discourse around Emerson’s mental health has been circulating since the incident. AirlineGeeks has not confirmed any information regarding Emerson’s medical status.

Alaska’s official statement says that Emerson completed the required FAA medical certifications throughout his career and never had a medical certificate denied, suspended, or revoked.

”Nothing abnormal about him, very caring…,” a neighbor of Emerson’s told CBS Bay Area. The 44-year-old was reportedly also a flight instructor at a local flying club.

https://airlinegeeks.com/2023/10/23/new ... ska-pilot/

[3WE]

A distinct possibility. It’s about time a pilot listens to us!

Should we post a F.A.O.: Evanie there?

Indeed!

J’s reference said he was caring. All the more likely he would scour the internet for piloting advice from us.

Along those lines [not italics]we wish him the best on his mental challenges.

Maybe he lost it when he realized his lousy Cowboy attitude and poorly designed procedures had resulted in massive near did diedness at his own hands?

[elaw]

Oh man, my weird-o-meter just went off the scale and broke! https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/ ... affidavit.

(From the most recent Blancolirio vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze_WIE3Yokg)

[Not_Karl]

AvieHeraldie entry.

Nothing in those reports indicating whether the pilot was drunk and naked.

Not_durnked, but certainly intoxicated.

[Gabriel]

AvieHeraldie entry.

Nothing in those reports indicating whether the pilot was drunk and naked.

Not_durnked, but certainly intoxicated.

But mushrooms are natural, hence good!!!!
Not like these nasty artificial colors in sodas. THAT should be banned.

[Not_Karl]

But mushrooms are natural, hence good!!!!

INDEED! Next time someone wants 'shrooms before entering a cockpit they should try with amanita phalloides (it even has a nairy name!).

[elaw]

Not_durnked, but certainly intoxicated.

Reports seem to be indicating he took the 'shrooms 2 days prior, so probably not?

Related / not related: some of the comments on AH are pretty amusing. One poster theorizes that the apparently-confused FO pulled the handles by accident, as the only thing FOs do is "operate the flaps" and that they're blaming the jumpseater to cover up what happened.

[3WE]

***the most recent Blancolirio vid***

My new procedure is to avoid Dan Juan videos as they are too long-winded. If there’s something worthwhile, describe it or give a time stamp. I don’t need the long version of everything…