Californian pilot accused of attempting to shut down his plane’s engines speaks out

CALIFORNIA — A retired pilot accused of attempting to shut down engines during a flight to California last year will give an extensive interview and discuss mental health in the aviation industry in a new documentary premiering Friday night.

Joseph Emerson is accused of taking psychedelic mushrooms before heading home in the jump seat of Alaska Airlines Flight 2059, a Horizon Airlines flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, on October 22, 2023. As the plane approached Portland, Emerson reportedly said, “I'm not feeling well,” and then jumped up from his seat in the cockpit to pull two fire-fighting levers that could have cut power to the plane's engines.

One of the pilots later told investigators that Emerson did not pull the handles all the way down, preventing a tragedy aboard a crowded plane with dozens of passengers and crew. The flight was diverted to Portland International Airport, and prosecutors allege a flight attendant prevented Emerson from opening an emergency exit during the approach to landing.

After his arrest, Emerson told investigators that he had suffered from depression in the months leading up to the flight, had not slept for two days, and had taken magic mushrooms for the first time about 48 hours before the flight.

He was initially charged with 83 counts of attempted murder and 83 counts of reckless endangerment. In December, a grand jury indicted him on 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of “endangering aircraft” and dropped the attempted murder charge. Emerson pleaded not guilty and was released on bail. He returned to the Bay Area pending a trial expected to begin in the fall.

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The new documentary “Lie to Fly” is part of the “New York Times Presents” series on FX and Hulu and features extensive interviews with Emerson.

“'Lie to Fly' tells Emerson's story and the reasons he and many other pilots are afraid to seek mental health treatment,” says the New York Times. “The film follows a growing movement calling for reform of the Federal Aviation Administration's strict rules on pilot mental health, which insiders say put the public at risk.”

“Lie to Fly” is scheduled to premiere Friday night on FX’s “The New York Times Presents” and is available on Hulu.