A former Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to cut the engines of a passenger flight in October 2023 has reached plea agreements with both federal and state prosecutors, his attorney said Thursday.
Attorney Noah Horst declined to discuss details of the agreements ahead of change-of-plea hearings his client, Joseph Emerson, faces Friday in state and federal court in Oregon. Horst said Emerson "wants to take responsibility for his actions and hopes to avoid further time behind bars."
Prosecutors allege that Emerson, a former pilot for Alaska Airlines, attempted to cut the engines of a Horizon Air flight on Oct. 22, 2023, while he was riding off-duty in an extra seat in the cockpit. The flight, en route from Paine Field in Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, was diverted to Portland, Oregon, where it landed safely with more than 80 people on board. Flight crew members subdued Emerson, according to earlier reports.
Emerson has told police he was despondent over a friend’s recent death, authorities said at the time. His attorney did not provide further information Thursday, and prosecutors have not publicly disclosed the specific terms of the plea agreements.
The case drew federal involvement because of the alleged attempt to sabotage an aircraft during an interstate flight, bringing both federal and state authorities into the investigation and prosecution. Federal prosecutors have authority to pursue crimes that endanger aircraft and passengers, while state charges can address related conduct under local criminal statutes.
Court filings in the coming days are expected to outline the charges Emerson will formally plead to and the factual basis for the plea agreements. Change-of-plea hearings are scheduled in state and federal court in Oregon on Friday, where a judge will determine whether to accept the agreements.
The Oct. 2023 incident prompted renewed attention to cockpit security and procedures for nonworking crew members aboard commercial flights. Airlines and federal regulators have long maintained rules governing who may occupy jump seats and the supervision of off-duty personnel, and the matter has been reviewed by investigators from multiple agencies since the flight landed safely in Portland.
No additional comments were immediately available Thursday from Alaska Airlines, Horizon Air or prosecutors. Further court proceedings will clarify the nature of the charges and any sentencing recommendations contained in the plea agreements.