Joseph Emerson, a former Alaska Airlines pilot, recalls the day he almost shut down both engines on a flight as the worst 30 seconds of his life. In October 2023, Emerson was struggling with the death of his best friend and the effects of psychedelic mushrooms he had taken. As he took his jump seat in the cockpit, he felt a deepening fear and became convinced that reality wasn’t real.
Emerson’s anxiety intensified, and he reached for the engine shut-off controls, pulling the levers. The pilots quickly stopped him, and Emerson realized his actions could have ended in disaster. He asked to be handcuffed and was taken into custody when the plane landed.
A Long and Difficult Road to Recovery
Joseph Emerson spent 45 days in jail before being granted bond. He later learned he suffered from hallucinogen-persisting perception disorder (HPPD), a condition that causes persistent visual hallucinations or perception issues after using psychedelic mushrooms.
Now, Emerson is dedicating his life to building a nonprofit, Clear Skies Ahead, to raise awareness about pilot mental health. He accepts full responsibility for his actions and is prioritizing his mental health. Emerson’s incident has brought renewed attention to pilot mental health, and the FAA is working to modernize its evaluation program.
Joseph Emerson’s future remains uncertain, with over 80 state and federal charges pending. He hopes the judicial process will consider his entire experience, not just the 30 seconds of the incident. Emerson is grateful to the passengers and crew for their calm response. He owes a debt of gratitude to the crew for their professionalism.
Ultimately, Emerson wants to fly again, but it’s out of his hands. He’s focusing on putting himself in a position where it’s possible, but if not, he’s willing to accept that.
This news story was originally published by ABC News.
