WASHINGTON: An off-duty pilot of Alaska Airlines has been charged with attempted murder after he allegedly tried to shut down the plane’s engines during flight, Western media reported on Monday.
Embraer E-175 aircraft was on a flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco when the incident occurred, said Alaska Airlines in a statement.
The plane was carrying 80 passengers which was diverted to Portland, Oregon, where it landed safely.
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Alaska Airlines said the pilots reported a security threat from an off-duty pilot who was traveling in the cockpit at the jump seat.
The airline further said that the polit attempted to shut down the aircraft engines. The Captain and First Officer quickly responded and secured the aircraft without incident.
The airline praised the pilots for professional handling of the situation.
Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office in Portland on Monday charged Joseph Emerson, 44, Alaska Airlines with 83 counts of attempted murder, reckless endangerment and endangering an aircraft.
Many airlines routinely permit off-duty pilots to take a ride on the cockpit jump seat behind the pilots.
