A Pilot's Hallucinogenic Nightmare: What Really Happened Mid-Flight?

In October 2023, a strange incident occurred on an Alaska Airlines flight. Joseph Emerson, an off-duty pilot, tried to turn off the plane's engines while flying. He was not in his right mind. He had eaten "magic mushrooms" two days before the flight. Security cameras captured the moment police led Emerson off the plane in handcuffs. The flight had to make an emergency landing in Portland. The cockpit audio revealed Emerson saying, "I'm not OK. " The pilot misunderstood and asked, "You're OK? " Emerson repeated, "I'm not OK. " A struggle followed, with the pilot asking, "Dude, what's going on? ! " The pilot then told air traffic control, "Horizon, we need to make an emergency landing. We've got a jump seater just tried to shut our engines off. " Later, the pilot informed air traffic control that they had removed Emerson from the cockpit. Emerson later explained that he had no intention of crashing the plane. He thought he was in a dream and believed pulling the engine handles would wake him up. He admitted it was a mistake and called it the "most consequential three seconds of his life. " During his ride in a police cruiser, Emerson asked the officer, "Do you believe in forgiveness? " He also said, "I want to be accountable. But am I gonna be forgiven for being so stupid? " Emerson had been grieving the loss of his best friend. He first turned to alcohol and then tried psilocybin mushrooms for the first time. His attorneys said he had hallucinogen persisting perception disorder, which made the effects last for days. Emerson pleaded guilty to interfering with a flight crew and no contest to other charges. He was sentenced to time served and probation. The incident raises questions about the impact of psychedelic drugs and mental health on flight safety.