More details emerge after off-duty pilot allegedly tried to shut off engines on Alaska Airlines flight

The off-duty pilot accused of making an attempt to crash an Alaska Airlines passenger airplane allegedly tried to shut down the engines “by engaging the Engine Fire Handle,” in accordance to the airline.

The hearth suppression device on the airplane is composed of a T-valve take care of for each and every engine, and if the ones handles are absolutely deployed, a valve within the wing closes to shut off gas to the engine, Alaska Airlines mentioned.

The “quick reaction of our crew to reset the T-handles ensured engine power was not lost,” Alaska Airlines mentioned.

At the time of the Sunday incident, off-duty captain Joseph David Emerson used to be sitting within the flight deck leap seat, which is within the cockpit, Alaska Airlines mentioned. Emerson used to be heard within the moments prior to the incident pronouncing one thing identical to, “I’m not right,” initial information bought by means of investigators indicated, in accordance to a federal reputable briefed on the probe.

Emerson engaged with the pilots in “casual conversation” sooner than allegedly making an attempt “to grab and pull two red fire handles that would have activated the plane’s emergency fire suppression system and cut off fuel to its engines,” prosecutors mentioned.

“After a brief physical struggle with the pilots, Emerson exited the cockpit,” prosecutors mentioned.

The flight used to be en direction from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco when it diverted to Portland, Oregon, the airline mentioned. Emerson used to be scheduled to be on a flight staff of a 737 leaving San Francisco, in accordance to a federal reputable.

Flight attendants put Emerson in wrist restraints and sat him behind the airplane, prosecutors mentioned.

As the airplane descended, Emerson allegedly “tried to grab the handle of an emergency exit” however used to be stopped by means of a flight attendant, prosecutors mentioned.

Emerson used to be taken into custody in Portland and faces fees, together with 83 counts of tried homicide, in accordance to officers. He is due in court docket on Tuesday afternoon.

There have been 80 passengers and 4 staff individuals on the flight, in accordance to Alaska.

“We didn’t know anything was happening until the flight attendant got on the loudspeaker and made an announcement that there was an emergency situation and the plane needed to land immediately,” passenger Aubrey Gavello advised ABC News, “… About 15 minutes later, she got back on and said that there was a medical emergency.”

Passenger Alex Wood mentioned the pilot introduced that “there was a disturbance in the cockpit.”

Gavello mentioned she heard a flight attendant inform the suspect, “We’re going to be fine, it’s OK, we’ll get you off the plane.”

“After we did land and the gentleman was escorted off, the flight attendant got back on the speaker and said, plain and simple, ‘He had a mental breakdown. We needed to get him off the plane immediately,'” Gavello mentioned.

Alaska mentioned Emerson joined the provider as a Horizon First Officer in 2001. He then left the airline in 2012 to sign up for Virgin America as a pilot.

Emerson returned to Alaska in 2016 when the provider bought Virgin America and he changed into a Captain with Alaska in 2019, the airline mentioned.

Alaska mentioned right through Emerson’s time with the provider he “completed his mandated FAA medical certifications in accordance with regulatory requirements, and at no point were his certifications denied, suspended or revoked.”

The tournament is being investigated by means of legislation enforcement, the airline mentioned. The FBI mentioned it “can assure the traveling public there is no continuing threat related to this incident.”

The Federal Aviation Administration mentioned in a remark to carriers that the incident is “not connected in any way shape or form to current world events.”