Pilot who police say tried to cut the engines on a jet midflight now faces a federal charge
An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who police say tried to cut the engines on a jet midflight was charged with a federal count of interfering with a flight crew
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who police say tried to cut the engines on a jet midflight was charged Tuesday with a federal count of interfering with a flight crew.
Joseph David Emerson, 44, of Pleasant Hill, California, was initially arrested in Oregon on Sunday night on state counts of attempted murder after the flight crew reported that he attempted to shut down the engines on a Horizon Air flight from Washington state to California while riding in the extra seat in the cockpit.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Portland filed the federal charge Tuesday.