In an exclusive interview with the New York Times, Joseph Emerson, the commercial airline pilot charged with 83 counts of attempted murder spoke out for the first time since his arrest. Emerson, who is currently being held without bond in Portland’s Multnomah County Jail, detailed the events that led up to the horrifying incident that occurred during a flight from Washington state to San Francisco on October 22.
Emerson revealed that his nightmare began two days prior, when he consumed magic mushrooms with friends while reminiscing about another friend who had passed away in 2018. The death of his friend had a profound impact on Emerson, leading him to spiral into a deep depression. Attempting to cope with his grief, Emerson sought help from therapists, but despite these efforts, he found himself continuing to self-medicate with the hallucinogenic substance.
As he consumed the magic mushrooms on the day of the flight, Emerson stated that he began to feel as though his friends were mocking him and plotting to harm him. These paranoid delusions only intensified as he made his way to the airport, where he boarded the one-hour flight to San Francisco as a passenger, as he was off-duty at the time.
Before the doors closed on the plane, Emerson reached out to a friend via text message, revealing that he was suffering from a panic attack. Once the flight was airborne, Emerson’s mental state rapidly deteriorated, and he began to experience a complete psychotic break. He screamed uncontrollably and activated the plane’s fire-suppression handles in an attempt to stop the engines, believing that this action would snap him out of his hallucinogenic state.
The situation took a turn for the worse as Emerson’s behavior escalated even further. According to a police report, the pilots flying the plane had to physically restrain Emerson as he attempted to interfere with the plane’s controls, including trying to cut off the fuel supply and shutting down the engines. Emerson then became aggressive, demanding to be restrained and escalating the tension in the cockpit. The pilots managed to land the aircraft safely after declaring an emergency, leading to Emerson’s arrest.
During the incident, Emerson also exhibited alarming behavior, such as attempting to open the emergency door, taking off his clothes, attempting to dive out a window, urinating on himself, and engaging in disturbing acts of self-harm. Reflecting on his actions, Emerson expressed deep regret and remorse, admitting that he was horrified by the risks he had put himself and others in.
The aftermath of the incident has left Emerson facing severe legal consequences, as he is now charged with 83 counts of attempted murder, one for each passenger on the flight. Despite his shocking behavior, Emerson is determined to take responsibility for his actions and is expressing a sincere desire to seek help and treatment for his mental health struggles.
The case of Joseph Emerson serves as a sobering reminder of the devastating impact that untreated mental health issues can have, particularly when combined with substance abuse. While the consequences of his actions are severe, Emerson’s confession sheds light on the urgent need for greater awareness and support for individuals struggling with mental health disorders, as well as the importance of seeking professional help to prevent tragedies such as this from occurring in the future.