Pilots Subdue Colleague In Attempted Disruption Of Horizon Flight

Airline flight operations departments are emphasizing the value of vigilance in the wake of an off-duty pilot’s attempt to disrupt and possibly take down a Horizon Air Embraer E175 while riding in the jump seat.

The Oct. 22 incident took place on Horizon Flight 2059 between Everett, Washington, and San Francisco. About 30 min. into the scheduled two-hour flight, a jump-seating pilot attempted to shut the E175’s engines down, one of the Horizon pilots told air traffic control (ATC) according to a recording posted on LiveATC.

The Horizon crew did not detail how the incident unfolded, but an FAA notice to airlines said the off-duty pilot, later identified as 44-year-old Joseph David Emerson, attempted to activate the engine fire suppression systems, which shuts off fuel flow. The incident occurred at flight level 310, FlightAware data shows.

One of the Horizon pilots told ATC the incident was a “Level Four” security threat, the most severe on the ICAO-developed, widely adopted scale of flight security disruptions usually linked to unruly passenger behavior. Level Four signifies an “attempted or actual breach” of the flight deck.

“The jump seat occupant unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt the operation of the engines,” Horizon parent Alaska Air Group said in a statement. “The Horizon captain and first officer quickly responded, engine power was not lost and the crew secured the aircraft without incident.”

The crew followed “appropriate FAA procedures and guidance from air traffic control” and diverted to Oregon’s Portland International Airport, where law enforcement authorities took charge of the investigation, Alaska added.

At the time of the incident the 76-seat jet had four crew members and 80 passengers on board, including some lap infants, Alaska confirmed.

The company also confirmed the jump-seating pilot was an off-duty Alaska Airlines employee.

Emerson was taken into custody after the flight arrived in Portland. According to booking records from the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO), he faces 83 counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment, and one count of endangering an aircraft. The MCSO lists Emerson’s time of booking as Oct. 23 at 4:11 a.m. local time.

“The jump seat occupant is currently in custody and the event is being investigated by law enforcement authorities, which includes the FBI and the Port of Portland Police Department,” Alaska said.

“We are grateful for the professional handling of the situation by the Horizon flight crew and appreciate our guests’ calm and patience throughout this event.”

Airlines and flight operations stakeholders relayed initial details of the incident and urged pilots and other front-line employees to maintain a high level of vigilance.

“We have confirmation that ... a significant security event occurred on another U.S. airline involving a validated jump-seater attempting to disable the aircraft engines by deploying the engine fire suppression system,” an American Airlines alert seen by Aviation Week said. “Please maintain vigilance and heightened situation awareness.”

Among the areas the probe will examine is why Emerson tried to disrupt the flight and what, if any, changes should be considered in flight deck security protocol.

Most airlines have regular pre-flight “threat briefings,” one pilot with a major U.S. carrier said. However, these are almost exclusively focused on operations—everything from weather to airport geometry.

An FAA notice said early indications are the incident “is not connected in any way, shape, or form to current world events,” according to an excerpt shared by Reuters. “However, it is always good practice to maintain vigilance.”

An Air Line Pilots Association statement suggested the incident was the result of a bad actor, not a flawed system.

“While the investigation is just getting underway, it is important to remember that the airline pilot profession in North America is one of the most highly vetted and scrutinized careers, and for good reason,” the association said. “For decades, the United States has pioneered a proactive approach to improving aviation safety and maintaining a healthy work environment for pilots. In addition, U.S. pilots are continuously evaluated throughout their careers through training, medical exams, crew resource management, and programs such as the Line Operations Safety Audit, as well as by the airline and during random flight checks by the Federal Aviation Administration.”