Pilot who 'tried to turn off engines mid-flight was high on magic mushrooms'

Joseph Emerson (left) is charged with 83 counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of creating threats to the aircraft. : Dave Killen/The Oregonian via AP

An on-duty U.S. pilot who allegedly tried to turn off the plane's engines in mid-air took magic mushrooms and thought he was having a nervous breakdown, court papers say.< /p>

Pilots pulled Joseph Emerson from the cockpit Sunday after he reportedly lunged for the controls, which would have starved the engines of fuel and turned the plane into a glider.

Emerson, who told police he didn't do it. slept for 40 hours and also tried to open the emergency exit at the rear of the plane and was held down by a flight attendant during an emergency landing.

“I pulled both emergency shutdown handles because I thought I was dreaming and I just want to wake up,” Emerson told police, according to the criminal complaint.

Emerson and the investigator “discussed using psychedelic mushrooms, and Emerson said this was his first time taking mushrooms.”

Emerson boarded the Horizon Air flight between Everett, Washington and San Francisco while sitting in a jump-seat cabin, in accordance with airline policy regarding non-working personnel.

A Shortly after the flight began, after speaking with the pilots, «Emerson attempted to grab and pull two red fire handles, which would have activated the plane's emergency fire suppression system and cut off fuel flow to its engines,» the Justice Department said.

«After a brief physical struggle with the pilots, Emerson exited the cockpit.»

Emerson, pictured on the previous flight, was «removed from operation for an indefinite period.»

Alaska Airlines said Monday that the pilots quickly responded and reversed the handles and the plane landed safely.

“During the descent, Emerson tried to grab the emergency exit handle. The flight attendant stopped him by placing her hands on top of his, the Justice Department said.

“The flight attendants placed Emerson in wrist restraints and seated him in the rear of the plane.”

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Oregon said Emerson faces a federal charge of interfering with flight crew members and maintenance personnel.

In Oregon, he is also charged with 83 counts of attempted murder and 83 counts of creating careless threat. and one count of endangering an aircraft.

U.S. media reported that he pleaded not guilty to those charges during a brief court appearance in Portland on Tuesday.

Live ATC, web -a site where conversations are archived. between pilots and air traffic controllers published an audio recording of the moments after the incident.

«We have a guy who tried to turn off the engines from the cockpit,» the pilot said. «And he doesn't seem to be causing any back problems right now.

«I think he's calm. Other than that, yes, we want law enforcement involved as soon as we land and park,» the pilot said.

Alaska Airlines said Tuesday that Emerson «has been suspended from duty indefinitely and relieved of all duties.»