PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Joseph Emerson, a former Alaska Airlines pilot who attempted to cut the engines of a passenger flight while off-duty in the cockpit, is scheduled for sentencing in federal court on Monday. Emerson has pleaded guilty or no-contest to all charges against him as part of plea agreements with state and federal prosecutors, taking responsibility for his actions to prevent serving additional time in prison.

The incident occurred on October 22, 2023, when Emerson, riding in an extra seat in the cockpit of a Horizon Air flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, attempted to activate the plane's fire suppression system by grabbing two red handles that would have cut off fuel to the engines. The flight crew quickly subdued him, and the aircraft was safely diverted to Portland with over 80 passengers on board.

Following his arrest, Emerson admitted to police that he was experiencing despondency from the recent death of a friend and had consumed psychedelic mushrooms two days prior to the incident. He stated that he hadn’t slept in over 40 hours and believed he was dreaming when he took the drastic actions in the cockpit.

In federal court, Emerson faces charges of interfering with a flight crew. Additionally, a state indictment in Oregon charges him with 83 counts of endangering another person and one count of endangering an aircraft. He was released from custody in December 2023 under conditions to undergo mental health services, abstain from drugs and alcohol, and maintain a distance of at least 25 feet from operable aircraft unless permitted by his probation officer.

In early September, Emerson pleaded guilty to the federal charge and no-contest to the state charges. The state court subsequently sentenced him to 50 days in jail, with credit for time served, alongside five years of probation, 664 hours of community service (calculated at eight hours for each endangered person), and over $60,000 in restitution, primarily directed towards Alaska Air Group. Notably, half of his community service can be fulfilled at a pilot health nonprofit he established following his arrest.

Federal prosecutors have requested a one-year prison sentence for Emerson, emphasizing that it was only due to the "heroic actions" of the flight crew that no lives were lost during the incident. Conversely, Emerson's attorney's proposed a sentence of time served, highlighting that the previous state prosecution had already imposed significant punishment.

A pre-sentence report from federal probation officers recommended Emerson be sentenced to time served with three years of supervised release and six months of home detention. In a court hearing, Emerson expressed gratitude to the flight crew for restraining him and stated that the experience has led him to confront personal challenges related to his mental health and alcohol use. He articulated that this journey has improved his roles as a father, husband, and community member, despite the loss of his career.

The incident has sparked renewed discussions surrounding cockpit safety and the mental fitness of individuals permitted to operate aircraft, highlighting the importance of thorough evaluations for airline personnel. The airline involved in the incident noted that no signs of impairment were observed in Emerson by other crew members prior to the flight.

As Emerson awaits his sentencing, the ramifications of his actions and the response of the aviation community continue to be a focal point of discussion in the wake of this potentially catastrophic event.