The off-duty pilot who attempted to cut the engines of a commercial airplane has been released from federal custody.
Joseph Emerson pleaded not guilty while appearing in Multnomah County Circuit Court in Oregon on Dec. 7. Emerson was initially charged with 84 counts of attempted murder but Judge Thomas Ryan reduced the charges to reckless endangerment.
The California resident also pleaded not guilty to one count of interfering with a flight crew.
Judge Ryan ruled that Emerson could be released pending trial under an agreement reached by his attorneys and the prosecution. While out of the state’s custody, the pilot must meet with a mental health professional, abstain from drugs and alcohol, and not come within 30 feet of any working aircraft.
His bail was set at $50,000.
“Is he criminally responsible? No. Does he need help? Yes,” said his defense attorney Noah Horst while speaking to reporters after the arraignment, per AP News. “Does Mr. Emerson deserve to be home today with his family and surrounded by his friends? Yes, he does.”
On Oct. 22, Emerson was riding in the jumpseat of Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 that departed Everett, Washington around 5:30 P.M. for San Francisco. Everett was scheduled to join another flight crew in California.
After take-off, Emerson suddenly said “I am not ok” and threw his headset across the cockpit. He then reached to pull the levers controlling the plane’s fire suppressant system, which would have shut down the engine.
Another pilot physically restrained Emerson and removed him from the cockpit. He then tried to open the emergency door of the plane before being stopped. He told the flight attendants, “You need to cuff me or it’s going to be bad.”
According to reports, the 44-year-old did not appear to be intoxicated nor did the flight crew see any signs of impairment.
The flight made an emergency landing in Portland around 6:26 P.M. Emerson was taken into custody by law enforcement. He told investigators that he had been struggling with depression for the last six years, had not slept in 40 hours, and took psychedelic mushrooms 48 hours before the flight.
Emerson’s legal team released a statement saying he believed he was in a dream.
“His actions were taken in a single-minded effort to wake up from that dream and return home to his family," said the pilot’s attorneys, per CBS News. "While we are pleased that the grand jury correctly determined that the attempted murder counts were inappropriate in this case, we were disappointed to learn that the grand jury did indict Captain Emerson for a single count of endangering an aircraft and 83 misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person."
Alaska Airlines has been sued by three of the passengers on Flight 2059, who say Emerson should not have been allowed to travel in the jumpseat.
