Up in the Air and Over the Edge: The Wild Ride of Alaska Airlines Flight 2059
Buckle up, folks! We’re taking you on a journey to a place where the skies are anything but friendly. In the wacky world of aviation, we’ve witnessed turbulence, lost luggage, and even the occasional crying baby. But on October 22, 2023, Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 had a little something extra in store for its passengers, courtesy of an off-duty pilot with, shall we say, unconventional flight plans.
Picture this: You’re onboard a flight from Everett, Washington to sunny San Francisco, California. Everything seems perfectly ordinary as the Embraer E175LR (registration: N660QX) takes off from Seattle Paine Field International Airport. But, little did the passengers know, they were about to become the unwitting participants in an impromptu episode of “Pilot Gone Wild.”
As the plane soared through the skies, things took an unexpected turn, or should we say nosedive. An off-duty pilot, Joseph David Emerson, decided he’d had enough of the mundane flight and had dreams of a more thrilling descent than anyone could have ever imagined. In a move that could only be described as “overly ambitious,” Emerson allegedly attempted to disable the plane’s engines. His weapon of choice? The aircraft’s fire extinguisher handles. That’s right, folks, in a battle of human versus machine, he thought those fire extinguishers were the key to becoming a true flying ace.
Thankfully, the plane’s pilots quickly reacted, and the situation was relayed to air traffic control. Can you imagine the conversation? “We’ve got the guy that tried to shut the engines down out of the cockpit, and he doesn’t sound like he’s causing any issues in the back right now.” Talk about understatement of the year. Apparently, in-flight entertainment options now include attempted aircraft sabotage — who knew?
As if the scene wasn’t surreal enough, the flight was promptly diverted to Portland International Airport. The poor passengers, expecting a smooth ride to their destination, ended up with a layover in the unlikeliest of places. Portland, Oregon — where the dream of reaching the Golden Gate Bridge suddenly turned into an emergency landing in the City of Roses. At least they had the chance to grab some artisanal coffee and contemplate the bizarre turn of events.
In a miraculous twist, despite the chaos unfolding at 35,000 feet, nobody was injured during the incident. A silver lining, one might say, but perhaps not for Emerson. The FBI wasn’t about to let this sky-high shenanigan slide. They promptly charged the 44-year-old off-duty pilot with a jaw-dropping 83 counts of attempted murder and 83 counts of reckless endangerment. That’s right, two counts for each of the 83 people on board, not including Emerson, in addition to one count of endangering an aircraft. He’s probably now realizing that his dream of becoming a legendary pilot will have to be put on hold — for a few decades, at least.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who usually deals with road maintenance, found himself commenting on this bizarre incident, stating that he was “grateful for the professional flight crew and air traffic controllers who stepped up to guide this plane safely to Portland.” We’d say “stepped up” is an understatement, Mr. Buttigieg. FAA supports law enforcement in their response, and we can only hope they’ll be focused on any safety considerations for the future that emerge from investigations. Like, perhaps, mandatory psychological evaluations for jumpseat privileges.
And so, dear readers, as we reflect on the astonishing tale of Alaska Airlines Flight 2059, we’re reminded that life is full of surprises, even at 35,000 feet. The next time you’re on a flight, just remember: it might not be your destination that’s up in the air, but the sanity of the off-duty pilot in the cockpit. Safe travels, and may your in-flight entertainment always be set to “normal.”
