A pilot's attempt to wake up from a dream nearly grounded a flight
In short: At 31,000 feet, an off-duty pilot pulled the emergency fire suppression handles, intending to shut down both engines. He believed he was trapped in a dream and was simply trying to wake himself up, unaware that his actions had placed 83 lives in immediate peril.
On October 22, 2023, Alaska Airlines Flight 2059—an Embraer E175 operated by Horizon Air—was traveling from Paine Field to San Francisco. Onboard were 79 passengers and five crew members, plus Joseph David Emerson, a 44-year-old Alaska Airlines captain traveling as a deadheading pilot in the cockpit jump seat.
Emerson's actions were driven by a profound psychological crisis. He had been struggling with severe depression for six months and had recently lost a close friend. Just 48 hours before the flight, he had consumed psychedelic mushrooms to manage his grief. While flying near Portland, Oregon, Emerson reportedly told investigators he believed he was dreaming and wanted to wake up, leading him to pull the 'T-handle' controls that shut off fuel flow to the engines.
The flight crew acted swiftly to reset the systems and prevent a total loss of engine power. After being removed from the cockpit, Emerson was restrained by flight attendants and the plane diverted to Portland International Airport. While prosecutors initially sought 83 counts of attempted murder, a grand jury ultimately opted for charges of reckless endangerment and endangering an aircraft, suggesting they did not find evidence of specific intent to kill.
The legal aftermath was complex. In December 2023, Emerson was released on a $50,000 bond. By September 2025, he was sentenced in state court to 50 days in jail, 664 hours of community service, and five years of probation. In federal court, he received time served and three years of supervised release, alongside a $60,000 restitution order.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Alaska Airlines Flight 2059
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