Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph David Emerson spoke to the public for the first time in an interview with ABC News about his attempt to bring down a plane under the influence of hallucinogenic mushrooms.
Pilot Joseph David Emerson made his first public statement after the incident involving hallucinogenic mushrooms. The Alaska Airlines pilot tried to bring down a plane with 83 passengers while under the influence of the drugs on October 22, 2023.
In an interview with ABC News, Emerson explained that he used the mushrooms to celebrate the memory of a friend who passed away six years ago. Despite using the drugs two days prior, the effects persisted until the day of his flight.
Emerson attempted to bring down the plane of Alaska Airlines Flight 2059, which was traveling from San Francisco to Everett. He thought he “would never make it home” and felt “trapped on the plane,” according to reports.
The other pilots removed Emerson’s hands from the controls and expelled him from the cockpit. After landing, he was detained for 45 days before being released on bail. The effects of the mushrooms wore off after six days.
Emerson has been charged with 83 counts of reckless endangerment, in addition to more than 80 state and federal charges, and is awaiting trial while out on bail.
+Click here to watch the pilot’s testimony
Photos: @alaskaair. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
