New Cockpit Audio Released of ‘Off-Duty Pilot on Mushrooms’ Who Tried to Shut Down Engine of Alaska Airlines Plane
In 2023, The Gateway Pundit reported on a terrifying incident involving an Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 Everett, Washington to San Francisco, California. New audio from the incident has now been released.
Following a struggle, the crew reported a ‘credible security threat’ related to an ‘authorized occupant in the flight deck jump seat′.
The incident involved Joseph David Emerson, an off-duty pilot, who tried to shut off the plane’s engines mid-flight after taking psychedelic mushrooms.
Emerson was arrested and charged with 83 counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment (state charges), and one count of endangering an aircraft (federal charge).
Emerson pled guilty, but a judge ruled that the former pilot will serve no additional time in prison for the incident that endangered the lives of passengers.
He received a 50-day jail sentence with credit for time served and five years of probation.
New audio has been released of the harrowing incident.
A pilot can be heard asking Emerson, “What’s wrong?”
Emerson replies, “I gotta get home.”
“You wanna be home?”
“Yeah.”
Following the brief interaction, a struggle can be heard unfolding. The pilot then reported the incident to the tower, “It’s Horizon 2059. We’ve got a jumpseater who just tried to shut our engines off. We need to go direct to Portland now.”
Listen:
NEW: Audio released from cockpit captures moments when pilot tried to shut off plane engines mid-flight; DASH-CAM FOOTAGE
“I’m not okay,” and “I gotta get home.”
Joseph Emerson, an off-duty pilot, was riding in the jumpseat on Horizon flight 2095 from Everett to San Francisco… pic.twitter.com/YQ3fjboy1A
— Unlimited L’s (@unlimited_ls) December 9, 2025
In an interview with CBS News over the summer, Emerson said he genuinely thought he was “in a dream” and trying to wake up.
An off-duty pilot who had taken psychedelic mushrooms tried to pull the handles that shut off a plane’s engines during a 2023 flight, forcing the crew to make an emergency landing.
Newly-released cockpit audio and airport security video show the moment it happened. The pilot… pic.twitter.com/h5hgkTnWId
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) December 9, 2025
The post New Cockpit Audio Released of ‘Off-Duty Pilot on Mushrooms’ Who Tried to Shut Down Engine of Alaska Airlines Plane appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.