A former Alaska Airlines pilot accused of attempting to cut the engines of a Horizon Air flight will not be charged with attempted murder.
Joseph Emerson has been indicted on 84 counts of endangerment – one for each person on the plane – and one count of endangering an aircraft.
He previously pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder brought by state prosecutors and to a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew.
Prosecutors allege that Emerson, 44, tried to cut the engines during the flight from Everett, Washington state, to San Francisco while occupying an additional seat in the cockpit.
In an affidavit, the FBI stated that after a brief struggle, Emerson left the cockpit and was restrained by flight attendants, who then placed him in the back of the aircraft. The plane was subsequently diverted to Portland.
According to court documents, Emerson admitted to Port of Portland police that he had been battling depression, recently lost a friend, and had consumed psychedelic mushrooms approximately 48 hours before attempting to cut the engines.
He also claimed to have not slept for more than 40 hours.
Emerson’s defense attorneys expressed satisfaction with the grand jury’s decision.
“The charges of attempted murder were never appropriate in this case because Captain Emerson never intended to harm anyone or put anyone in danger – he simply wanted to return home to his wife and children.
“In simple terms: Captain Emerson believed he was in a dream.”
Emerson remains in custody in Multnomah County, Oregon.