US plane diverted after off-duty pilot allegedly tries to 'shut down' plane's engines

An Alaska Airlines flight bound for San Francisco was diverted to Portland, Oregon after an off-duty pilot inside the flight deck attempted to disable the aircraft engines.

Alaska Airlines said all passengers on board were able to travel on a later flight. Source: Getty / Paul Bersebach

Key Points

• A 44-year-old man was booked on 83 counts of attempted murder and endangering an airplane.
• The passenger was reportedly an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot.
• The flight bound for San Francisco was forced to divert to Portland, Oregon following the alleged incident.

A San Fransisco-bound Alaska Airlines plane has been diverted to Portland in the United States after a jump seat passenger in the cockpit allegedly tried to disable the aircraft engines.

The suspect, 44-year-old Joseph David Emerson, was booked on 83 counts of attempted murder and endangering an airplane, according to Multnomah County Sheriff's Office booking information, after being arrested by Port of Portland police.

Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 operated by Horizon Air from Everett, Washington, diverted on Sunday after reporting a credible security threat, the airline said.

"I’ll just give you a heads-up. We’ve got the guy that tried to shut the engines down out of the cockpit," the Horizon pilot told FAA air traffic control, according to audio posted by LiveATC. "It doesn’t sound like he’s causing any issue at the back. I think he’s subdued... We want law enforcement as soon as we get on the ground and parked."

The Federal Aviation Administration told airlines in a notice seen by Reuters the off-duty pilot sought to disable the engines on the Embraer 175 regional jet by deploying the fire suppression system and added the crew was able to subdue the individual and remove him from the flight deck. The engines were never disabled, Alaska said.

Port of Portland police officers met the flight and took the subject into custody without incident, and said the investigation is ongoing.

An FAA pilot database shows Emerson is listed as a certified pilot who received a medical clearance last month.

A Delta Air Lines plane takes off above a taxiing Alaska Airlines airplane. Source: AP / Ted S. Warren

The FBI in Portland said it "is investigating and can assure the travelling public there is no continuing threat related to this incident."

The FAA told airlines in a separate notice on Monday the incident "is not connected in any way, shape or form to current world events" but said it is "always good practice to maintain vigilance."

It is standard practice for off-duty pilots to sit in jump seats to return home or to a future flight assignment.

Alaska Airlines said all passengers on board were able to travel on a later flight.