“I want to fly again,” says pilot who tried to crash his plane while on mushrooms

The former Alaska Airlines pilot who attempted to crash a plane while high on psychedelic mushrooms said in an interview with Good morning Americabefore adding, “I don't know if I'll be given that opportunity.” On October 22, 2023, Joseph Emerson attempted to shut down the engines of a plane mid-flight while in an apparent dissociative state after taking magic mushrooms “for the first time.” According to Emerson, a prison doctor later told him that he was suffering from a persistent hallucinogen perception disorder that can cause hallucinations or perception disorders for several days in first-time mushroom users. While he now faces several more state and federal charges, including 83 counts of reckless endangerment (that's one per person on the flight in question), Emerson and his wife GMA They are working to raise funds for a nonprofit organization that focuses on pilot mental health.