Image: Alaska Airlines
In an interview with The New York Times, Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson expressed concern that seeking mental health treatment would harm his career.
Emerson claimed he was in a hallucinogenic state when he tried to turn off the engines of a Horizon Air flight, a regional subsidiary of Alaska Airlines, that was diverted to Portland. He claimed to have consumed “magic mushrooms” two days earlier because he was mourning the death of his best friend.
He argues that the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) current mental health system makes it difficult for pilots to access diagnosis and treatment. He says many pilots are disingenuous about these issues.
In the past, the FAA has routinely suspended pilots who suffered from depression and even went so far as to suspend pilots who were taking common antidepressants. However, in 2010, measures were implemented to allow pilots with mild to moderate depression to use antidepressants.
After the Joseph Emerson incident, the mental health of pilots in the USA came into greater focus. The FAA released a video showing Dr. Susan Northup, Federal Air Surgeon, highlighted the importance of open discussion of these issues and early intervention. She also mentioned that most mental illnesses do not disqualify a pilot from flying.
The FAA recently announced the formation of a committee to study the mental health of pilots to prevent incidents like Joseph Emerson’s. As the FAA works to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in the aviation community, there is still much work to be done.
Going forward, the FAA committee is expected to improve the support channels available to pilots and develop new tools to prevent mental healthrelated incidents. There is currently hope that a safer mental health environment can be created in the aviation industry.