Posted on 11/17/2025 9:23:56 PM PST by E. Pluribus Unum
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge on Monday ruled there would be no prison time for a former Alaska Airlines pilot who had taken psychedelic mushrooms days before he tried to cut the engines of a passenger flight in 2023 while riding off-duty in the cockpit.
U.S. District Court Judge Amy Baggio in Portland, Oregon, sentenced Joseph Emerson to time served and three years’ supervised release, ending a case that drew attention to the need for cockpit safety and more mental health support for pilots.
Federal prosecutors wanted a year in prison, while his attorneys sought probation.
“Pilots are not perfect. They are human,” Baggio said. “They are people and all people need help sometimes.”
Emerson hugged his attorneys and tearfully embraced his wife after he was sentenced.
Emerson was subdued by the flight crew after trying to cut the engines of a Horizon Air flight from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco on Oct. 22, 2023, while he was riding in an extra seat in the cockpit. The plane was diverted and landed in Portland with more than 80 people.
Emerson told police he was despondent over a friend’s recent death, had taken psychedelic mushrooms about two days earlier, and hadn’t slept in over 40 hours. He has said he believed he was dreaming and was trying to wake up by grabbing two red handles that would have activated the fire suppression system and cut fuel to the engines.
He spent 46 days in jail and was released pending trial in December 2023, with requirements that he undergo mental health services, stay off drugs and alcohol, and keep away from aircraft.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.com ...
Muslim pilots don’t need any psychedelic mushrooms to Allah Akbar an airplane.
Un ******* believable...
U.S. District Court Judge Amy Baggio = Biden judge
“ Pilots are not perfect. They are human,” Baggio said. “They are people and all people need help sometimes.”
Ok.
What if I as a passenger did the same thing???????
F*ck this sh*t!!!!
There is no justice!!!
I am RAPIDLY devolving into an extremely angry and very jaded old Conservative.
I HATE this crap.
These judges are as nutty as teachers and professors.
Another example of toxic femininity. Having understanding and compassion when strict punishment was called for.
It was a mostly peaceful turning
the airplane’s ✈️ engines OFF
Climate Change played a big factor
in the incident, no doubt
Besides, Elon Musk made him do it
The nutty libtard judge and this very disturbed pilot should lose their respective licenses. How is that fair to the hundred or more passengers who innocently bought a ticket on a flight piloted by a nutcase? This judge is deeply deeply into her libtardism, so much so that she has sympathy for the wrong people. Suppose a doctor cut off her leg instead of removing a mole? “Oh well, Doctor, I understand. Everyone has a bad day now and then...”
I don’t understand my country anymore.
The song White Rabbit comes to mind.
The nutcase was deadheading. Not part of the assigned crew. See the sixth paragraph of the article.
Was the White Knight talking backwards?
I hear ya. WHAT the hell kind of "justice" was this?! It's more important to consider a f***ed up pilot's "feelings" over the innocent lives of airline passengers and competent responsible crew who weren't high on 'magic mushrooms'??
Unbelievable.
I don’t care who or what you are, that person deserved more than a year in prison, way more. If successful, he would have murdered over 80 people.
Feminization of the courts. Doesn’t matter if the judge is a man or woman, thats what is behind court rulings like this.
Umm “passengers did do this kind of thing.
With box cutters...24 years ago
I guess they weren’t perfect either
The Red Queen's off with her head. Remember what the door mouse said.
Well, in THAT case...😤
>> “Pilots are not perfect. They are human,” Baggio said. “They are people and all people need help sometimes.”
“Judges are not always just”, Tick says. “They can tend towards progressive activism, and all progressive activists need bitchslapping sometimes.”
Toxic empathy is common in libtards, especially female ones.
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