CNN –
An off-duty pilot sitting as a passenger in the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines flight on Sunday attempted to “interfere with the operation of the engines,” forcing the flight to divert to Portland, Oregon, en route to San Francisco, the airline said in a statement on Monday.
The suspect, identified by police as Joseph D. Emerson, 44, was subdued by the flight crew and taken into custody by Port of Portland police officers, the port said in a separate statement.
Online booking records show Emerson was charged with 83 counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft.
After taking off from Paine Field Airport in Everett, Washington, Flight 2059 – the flight operated by Horizon Air, a regional airline owned by Alaska Airlines – reported a “credible security threat associated with an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who was on the Flight was involved.” “Deck jump seat,” the airline’s statement said.
Pilots occasionally use a “jump seat” in the cockpit when traveling in an official capacity or commuting to another airport.
Alaska Airlines told CNN that the off-duty pilot attempted to shut down both engines by pulling on the Embraer 175’s engine fire extinguisher handles. The quick response of the captain and first officer prevented total engine failure, the airline said.
“The fire suppression system consists of a T-handle for each engine; When pulled, a valve in the wing closes to shut off fuel to the engine,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement to CNN. “After being pulled out, some residual fuel remains in the line, and our crew’s quick response to reset the handles restored fuel flow and prevented fuel starvation.”
The plane was at cruising altitude when the incident occurred, Capt. Mike Karn, senior manager of aviation safety for American Airlines, said in the memo distributed to his airline, which also discussed the alleged attempt to shut down engine power.
One of the pilots assigned to the flight can be heard in an audio recording captured by LiveATC.net telling air traffic controllers that the suspect was “attempting to shut down the engines.”
“I think it’s subdued,” the pilot said. “We also want law enforcement once we are on the ground and parked.”
The flight was diverted to Portland International Airport, according to the airline. Emerson was not named, but said the “emergency seat occupant” was in custody and was being investigated by the FBI and the Port of Portland.
The Port of Portland confirmed Emerson’s identity in a statement to CNN, adding that he was being held at the Multnomah County Detention Center and the investigation was ongoing.
Passenger Aubrey Gavello told CNN affiliate KGO she was at the back of the plane and didn’t hear any commotion or had any idea anything was going on until a voice came over the intercom.
“Nothing, nothing, until the flight attendant announced that we had a situation and needed to prepare for an (early) landing,” she said. Her boyfriend was at the front of the plane and she said he was asleep the whole time.
Gavello said the flight crew walked the suspect to the back of the plane, where a flight attendant tried to calm the man down, according to KGO. Zipties were involved, Gavello told the San Francisco station.
When they landed, 10 police officers boarded the plane and took the man away, she said.
Other airlines have been informed of the preliminary details by the FAA.
In a statement, the FBI’s Portland field office confirmed it was investigating and said it could “assure the traveling public that there is no ongoing threat associated with this incident.” No injuries were reported on Flight 2059, the FBI said.
The FAA is supporting an investigation by local law enforcement, it told CNN. Separately, airlines were informed that the incident was not related to “current world events,” a veiled reference to the war in the Middle East between Israel and Hamas.
FAA records show Emerson held certification as an Airline Transport Pilot with the authority to fly the Airbus A320, Boeing 737, Canadair Regional Jet and De Havilland Dash 8. He did not have certification to fly the ERJ 175, according to those records, which were the aircraft in use during Sunday’s incident.
A neighbor said Emerson’s alleged behavior was very shocking.
“He seems like a really nice guy. There’s nothing unusual about him,” Ed Yee told CNN outside his home.
The remaining passengers on Flight 2059 were able to travel on a later flight, Alaska Airlines said.
“We are grateful for the Horizon flight crew’s professional handling of the situation and appreciate our guests’ calm and patience during this event,” the airline’s statement said.