Off-duty pilot allegedly attempted to intentionally crash an Alaska Airlines flight

An off-duty pilot, Joseph David Emerson, has been charged with 83 counts of attempted murder after allegedly attempting to crash an Alaska Airlines flight on Sunday night. The suspect was sitting in the cockpit behind the captain and first officer, as confirmed by the airline. The flight was en route from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco, California, with 80 passengers on board. The incident was reported to air traffic control by the crew members of Alaska Airlines Flight 2059, which was then diverted to Portland, Oregon. The suspect was subdued without incident upon landing. The pilot reassured air traffic control that the suspect was under control and requested police presence upon reaching the ground. The flight, operated by Horizon Air, eventually departed from Portland and arrived at its intended destination. All passengers were able to travel on a later flight, and Alaska Airlines expressed gratitude for the professional handling of the situation by the Horizon flight crew and the calmness and patience of the passengers.