Off-Duty US Pilot Hit With 83 Attempted Murder Charges After Trying to Shutter Plane's Engines

A jump seat on a plane is otherwise known as the third seat inside a cockpit, and is typically filled either by an off-duty pilot, federal inspector or another airline employee.

An off-duty pilot is now facing nearly 90 counts of attempted murder charges after trying to sabotage the engines of an Alaska Airlines flight over the weekend.

The suspect, identified as Joseph David Emerson, was seated in the flight deck jump seat within the cockpit when he allegedly attempted to disrupt the operation of the aircraft's engines by deploying the fire suppression system.

Quick responses from the flight crew prevented any loss of engine power, with officials successfully subduing and handcuffing the suspect until the authorities were able to safely land the plane. A total of 80 passengers and four crew members were aboard the flight.

At the time, the flight had been en route from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, California, before officials diverted to Oregon's Portland International Airport after being labeled a credible security threat. The flight was in the skies for about an hour before the incident took place.

Emerson is presently charged with 83 counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment, and one felony count of endangering an aircraft. The incident remains under investigation by law enforcement officials, with the FBI confirming there is no ongoing threat related to the incident.

Alaska Airlines emphasized that the event was not connected to any current world events, and the US Federal Aviation Administration expressed its support for law enforcement and promised to address any safety considerations arising from the investigation.

US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg commended the professional flight crew and air traffic controllers for safely guiding the plane to Portland.

"FAA supports law enforcement in their response and will be focused on any safety considerations for the future that emerge from investigations," added Buttigieg.

The pilots' union, Air Line Pilots Association, International, praised the swift actions taken by the crew and affirmed the rigorous vetting and safety measures in place for airline pilots in North America, stating: "US pilots are continuously evaluated throughout their careers through training, medical exams, crew resource management."