Alaska Airlines flight diverts after off-duty pilot in jump seat tries to disable engines

An Alaska Airlines flight, operated by Horizon Air, had to divert to Portland, Oregon, after an off-duty pilot attempted to disable the aircraft’s engines. The off-duty pilot, Joseph David Emerson, was arrested and charged with 83 counts of attempted murder, endangering an aircraft, and reckless endangerment.

The incident occurred on Alaska Airlines flight AS2059 from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, operated by Horizon Air Embraer E-175 registered N660QX. The off-duty pilot was seated in the cockpit jump seat. The FAA reported that the pilot attempted to disable the engines by deploying the fire suppression system but was subdued by the crew before any damage occurred. The engines were not actually disabled.

The flight crew quickly responded, and engine power was not lost during the incident. The flight landed safely in Portland, with no injuries reported among the passengers and crew. The FBI is investigating the incident and has assured the public that there is no ongoing threat.

This situation highlights the importance of vigilance in aviation security. The incident is not believed to be connected to any current world events. Off-duty pilots often occupy jump seats during flights, which is standard practice, but in this case, it led to an attempted security threat.