Attorneys for former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson claim that while attempting to turn off an Embraer E175's engines in midair, he was experiencing a "panic attack" and "illusions."
"Captain Emerson experienced a panic episode and a delusional feeling throughout this trip. All he was trying to do on that flight, in good faith, was shake himself free of the dream. No injury to anyone was planned or anticipated, according to a statement from Levi Merrithew Horst PC.
When Emerson reached for the red fire handles, which would have cut off the fuel supply to the engines, he was traveling in a flight deck jump seat from Seattle Paine Field International Airport (PAE) to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) on October 22, 2023.
By pulling Emerson away from the fire handles, one of the other pilots on the aircraft managed to avert the disaster.
Federal prosecutors charged the former Alaska Airlines pilot with interfering with flight crew members and 167 non-federal offenses, including 83 counts of attempted murder, after the event.
The statement, obtained by ABC News, purports that two days prior to the flight, on the anniversary of a former colleague's passing, Emerson had used “a small amount of psilocybin,” a substance found in mushrooms. He "had never taken mushrooms," the solicitors continued.
Attorneys claimed Emerson was afraid of losing his work if he went for mental health treatment.
According to reports, he was "suffering from untreated anxiety and depression, as well as a combination of stress, fatigue, and dehydration."
After the event, Emerson, a 20-year veteran pilot, was dismissed from his duties at Alaska Airlines and placed on indefinite leave of absence.
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