Pilot who tried to turn off aircraft engines in flight apologize

What happened was wrong, it should not have happened and I am responsible for that. Joseph David Emerson

The man declared himself guilty at the hearing and the judges approved the confession agreements. Joseph responded at the state level for 83 misdemeanor charges for putting a passenger at risk – for each person on board on the plane – and an accusation of endangering an aircraft.

He was ordered to perform 664 hours of community service and pay $ 59,608 (R $ 320,000 in the current quotation) in refund to the airline. Still according to the American newspaper, Judge Cheryl Albrecht would have said that he believes that Joseph regretted his actions and showed the psychological difficulties that a pilot can also pass.

One of the passengers also recommended to the court that man visit schools and alert about hallucinogens’ dangers. “I am more than happy to speak as many schools as possible for the rest of my life,” he said. He also thanked the crew members, who prevented him that day.

Joseph can still be arrested in a federal investigation. At the Portland Federal Court, he stated guilty of interference with the flight crew, a crime with a penalty of up to 20 years in prison. To the American press, their lawyers said prosecutors should request a year of imprisonment, which will be decided on a trial scheduled for November 17.

Remember the case

Joseph pulled two levers of fire suppression, designed to stop the engines of the aircraft. He was off duty and occupied an extra seat in the cabin when he suddenly stood up and tried to overthrow the vehicle on October 22, 2023 during the flight QXE2059, which had taken off from Everett, Washington, bound for San Francisco.