Off-duty US pilot who tried to crash plane midair will not serve prison time

A federal judge ruled that former Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson, who tried to shut off a plane’s engines while off duty in 2023, will serve no additional prison time beyond what he has already served.

Emerson, who blamed his actions on a mental breakdown triggered by hallucinogenic mushrooms and extreme sleep deprivation, received three years of supervised release after pleading guilty to interfering with a flight crew.

He had previously accepted state charges that resulted in probation, a brief jail term, and the loss of his pilot’s license.

In court, Emerson expressed remorse, saying the incident forced him to grow and that he never intended to harm passengers, the BBC has reported.

He has since paid restitution, begun working part-time, and started advocacy efforts focused on pilot mental health.

read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0kp6j5n68do

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