Tag: flight attendant

Ex-CHP captain who drunkenly exposed himself on flight, twice, avoids jail sentence

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A former California Highway Patrol captain will not serve jail time after admitting to exposing himself and sexually touching flight attendants aboard a JetBlue flight last year.

Dennis Woodbury, 50, will instead receive three years of probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count of simple assault on an aircraft. U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson ordered Woodbury to complete 100 hours of community service and undergo mental health and substance abuse treatment and testing, according to court records.

“That the defendant was once in a position of public trust and committed these acts is disturbing and should be taken seriously,” Assistant U.S. Atty. Brenda Galvan wrote in a sentencing memorandum.

Woodbury had previously been dismissed from the CHP after serving in the San Gabriel Valley, the U.S. attorney’s office said in a news release.

He was initially arrested on a more serious felony charge of abusive sexual contact within federal jurisdiction but was allowed to plead to a lesser charge of simple assault under a plea agreement accepted by the court in October.

The U.S. attorney’s office argued that a sentence of 90 days in custody “reflects the seriousness of the offense given the defendant’s history,” according to the memorandum.

The victims, two male flight attendants, testified that Woodbury’s actions left them fearful for their safety and disrupted their ability to do their jobs during a cross-country flight in April 2025, according to prosecutors.

On the flight, Woodbury downed a bottle of Prosecco and showed one flight attendant a pornographic picture, according to court records.

Woodbury then suggested the two men go on a cruise together.

“When [the attendant] demonstrated how the plane’s oxygen masks worked, he saw Woodbury looking at him and [making] a hand-pumping motion,” the criminal complaint states.

Shortly after, he slapped an attendant’s butt and yelled, “I love you.” The incident prompted flight staff to swap sections on the plane, but Woodbury’s behavior persisted.

He walked to the plane’s front galley, pulled down his pants and exposed himself to the second flight attendant. After he was urged to take his seat, Woodbury circled back to the front of the plane, demanded wine and exposed himself again.

The government said the incident compromised the attendants’ ability to perform safety-critical duties during the flight. In a victim impact statement, one flight attendant said Woodbury’s conduct caused “significant emotional, professional and reputational” harm.

“No one should have to feel threatened merely for doing their job,” prosecutors wrote.

Despite those arguments, the court declined to impose a jail sentence.

Anderson also waived a $2,000 fine proposed by prosecutors, citing Woodbury’s financial circumstances, and ordered him to pay a mandatory $10 special assessment, according to the judgment.

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Gavin J. Quinton

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January 6, 2026
Man caught red-handed after removing a piece of hardware from plane

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Collecting souvenirs is part of the travel experience. However, it’s wise to purchase them instead of simply helping yourself to whatever shiny thing catches your eye. A United passenger found this out the hard way when he helped himself to a piece of the plane, and he’s still paying the consequences.

Recently released footage from police body cams opens on a jet bridge in Idaho Falls as police ask the flight crew, “What is going on?”

The passenger started by switching seats

The suspect removed a piece of hardware from the pkane

A flight attendant explains that the situation unfolded when a passenger asked for a drink after moving himself to an empty seat in the exit row. Unfortunately, she had to decline his request because he didn’t have a card on file.

At some point, the man moved, and the passenger next to him informed the flight attendant that he’d seen the man messing with the hook attached to the emergency exit door. At this point, the flight attendant noted that the piece of equipment was missing.

The officer asks her to show her what the equipment looks like, “Because I have no idea what I’m looking for,” and follows her onto the plane. She shows him a small metal part attached to another emergency exit door. The officer refers to it as “a carabiner.”

Next, the flight attendant takes the officer to the door in question, pointing out that the carabiner is missing. The part may be small, but the flight attendant informs the officer that “the plane has to have it.”

The suspect was identified

The suspect was quickly identified

The officer expresses some concern about searching the passenger’s bags and violating his civil rights. He asks the flight attendant if she is sure it was there before the flight. Then he asks if they can provide him with the names of passengers.

A flight attendant displays passenger information on a phone, pointing out “the gentleman we believe took it.” She also pulls up the information for the witness. The officer takes screenshots of both with his own device.

The airline refused to help

Armed with this information, the officer approaches a gate agent sitting in front of a computer to ask for information about the passengers. She replies that she isn’t sure she’s allowed to accommodate the request.

The officer seems almost amused as he states, “It’s your crime.” He adds, “If you guys don’t want my help, it’s okay. Sorry, guys, you’re going to be delayed.”

The officer found the suspect

The plane couldn’t leave without the part

A few minutes later, the officer manages to find the witness, who says the suspect was intoxicated, banging on the window, and verbally threatening the safety of his fellow passengers.

The officer approaches the suspect in front of the baggage carousel and asks for his ID. The suspect replies that it’s out in his truck.

The officer follows the suspect to a white company pickup truck, where his supervisor is waiting to pick him up. When the door opens, the officer explains the situation to the forman, stating, “he took something off the plane that he wasn’t supposed to take.” He further explains that they need to retrieve it so the plane can leave.

The suspect denied the claims

The police officer asks for the carabiner.

The suspect replies, “What’s a carabiner?”

The police officer says it’s the part he took from the emergency door, but the suspect repeatedly denies taking it. The officer informs him that this is a federal offence.

The suspect puts his bags on the sidewalk and gives consent to a search. First, the officer demands that the suspect empty his pockets. He complies, and sure enough, the carabiner is inside.

“Look at that!” says the officer.

The suspect hands the carabiner to the officer, who calls him “a frickin thief” and orders him to stay put.

The part was returned

The next flight was delayed

The suspect continues to deny stealing the part he pulled out of his pocket. His exasperated supervisor has now been roped into this mess. Clearly, he isn’t amused as he apologizes to the officer and tells the suspect to get into the truck.

The officer is then seen telling a man who appears to be a pilot that he’s going to file criminal charges and make referrals to the FAA and Department of Homeland Security.

Moments later, the officer walks back into the airport and returns the missing piece to the flight crew.

It got worse

While the officer is inside the airport, the suspect strolls back in. He seems irritated that this is taking so long and complains about waiting.

The officer says that if he raises his voice again, he’s going to be put in handcuffs. The suspect responds by approaching the officer in a threatening manner.

The officer tells the suspect to put his hands behind his back. He refuses, backing away. The officer pepper-sprays him.

As the officer places the suspect in cuffs, he informs him that he has now earned a second felony charge. They walk outside where the suspect rushes the officer again, despite being handcuffed. Two more officers arrive on the scene and help restrain him.

The suspect is told he’s under arrest for stealing from an airplane, resisting arrest, and battery. According to View From The Wing, he received probation until the year 2031 for the state charges.

See the scene on video

Although the original bodycam video isn’t available to embed, found the video available on the internet with some occasionally spicy commentary. You can also find the original video without commentary here.

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September 7, 2025
TSA warns some hair tools can suddenly combust in the cargo hold

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Styling your up-do while you’re traveling has become easier with the introduction of cordless curling irons and hair straighteners but it has also gotten more complicated to fly with these hair care tools.

Lithium-ion batteries used to power cordless hair styling tools allow these devices to have faster charging and longer usage times, and are thus more reliable, according to the Growth Market Reports, a market research and business consulting firm.

But replacing the cord with a battery for power is what’s keeping the devices out of the cargo section of the plane.

The Transportation Security Administration recently sought to iron out the details in a post on X.

Plug-in hair straighteners and curling irons don’t have any flight restrictions so you’re free to pack them in your carry-on or check-in luggage.

But the TSA said their counterpart has restrictions: cordless hair styling tools that are powered by lithium metal or lithium ion batteries or gas or butane fuel are only allowed in carry-on bags. That’s so that passengers or flight attendants can react if they start to overheat in the cabin. If they overheat or combust in your checked bag in the cargo area of a plane, it may take a while for anyone to notice.

As an extra protective measure, the hair care tool must have a safety cover securely fitted over the heating element.

Doing your haircare on the fly? Allow us to iron out the details:

•Cordless curling irons with a gas cartridge or butane are ONLY permitted in carry-on bags.
•One per person.
•Must have a safety cover fitted over the heating element.
•No spare cartridges.

More: ⬇️

— TSA (@TSA) August 20, 2025

Cordless hair styling tools, with the specific battery, gas or butane fuel, are only allowed in carry-on bags due to their combustible nature, according to a TSA spokesperson.

Lithium-ion batteries, for example, can overheat resulting in heavy smoke and in some cases fire, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Items that are commonly powered by such batteries include battery packs, e-cigarettes, cell phones and laptops. These items are only allowed to travel with you in your carry-on bag.

If the items, “catch fire in the cargo area where checked bags are transported, there’s no one there to put it out,” Daniel Velez, spokesperson for Florida’s TSA, told the Florida Times-Union.

On a flight from Lihue, HI, to Los Angeles International Airport in July, a passenger’s e-cigarette overheated inside their backpack, according to an FAA report of the incident.

The flight attendant secured the e-cigarette in a thermal containment bag without injury, damage to the plane or flight interruptions.

There have been a total of 644 verified incidents of lithium batteries creating smoke, fire or extreme heat between 2006 and 2025, according to the FAA.

Of the total number of incidents, 482 occurred in the passenger area of the plane and 136 occurred in the cargo area.

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Karen Garcia

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August 25, 2025
Another British Airways flight attendant undressed in midair

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If you followed reports of earlier this year, you might be surprised to learn it’s happened again. According to the BBC, a different flight attendant is accused of a similar offense.

The outlet reports that the flight attendant was working a California to London flight. A witness described him as “babbling” and “sweating,” which are worrisome behaviors when your primary job is to look after passenger safety.

The flight attendant was “stood down” by his on-board manager after ignoring his duties during the in-flight safety checks. At that point, he allegedly complained of cramps and went to the bathroom to change his clothes. Some time later, a coworker opened the door and found him standing in his birthday suit.

The flight attendant pleaded guilty in court

The flight attendant’s colleagues attended to him for the duration of the flight due to his diluted pupils and an alarmingly high heart. Paramedics were waiting to take him to the hospital when the plane landed in London.

British Airways keeps making headlines

The flight attendant was charged with performing an aviation duty while impaired by drugs. He pleaded guilty in Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court.

Clothes-shedding flight attendants aren’t the only reason British Airways has been in the headlines lately. Recently, so his family could watch him fly. Since 9/11 there are strict protocols surrounding the opening of cockpit doors during flight.

Here’s hoping their next flight is uneventful.

Tamara Gane is based in Reno/Lake Tahoe. She takes dozens of trips a year and shares the best destinations, accommodations, experiences, and travel gear with her readers.

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August 22, 2025
Delta Passenger Swaps Seat To Be With Air Hostesses, Outrage Over Why

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Reddit Post

Form 2106 instructions

The Federal Aviation Administration says that flight attendants are expected to “verify that the armrests are in the normal forward/down position in order to ensure that they do not obstruct the passageway between the row or seats leading from the aisle to the emergency exit.”

A spokesperson for Delta told Newsweek: “Armrests must be lowered upon taxi, takeoff and landing. This is announced ahead of takeoff and landing.”

Asked whether passengers are allowed to stay among flight attendants during a flight journey, as the woman allegedly did in the Reddit post, the spokesperson added: “No further comment on the rest of the post, as we are unable to verify the accuracy of the claims made by the poster.”

Scientific research also supports the importance of proper seat belt use. An October 2020 study published in World Neurosurgery found that, while lap seat belts can help protect passengers from turbulence, they may be less effective during sudden deceleration during takeoff or landing. The study recommended enhanced safety harnesses as a more-protective alternative in such cases.

‘Infuriating’

The woman in the Reddit post said that the encounter began before takeoff, when she found the armrest already raised as she arrived at her assigned seat. “He was on the phone before takeoff, so I didn’t know when/how to interject before I asked for my seat belt,” she said.

She added that the issue continued throughout the flight until she finally sought help from a flight attendant. “I ended up asking FA [flight attendant] for help. The FA walked me back to the seat and shook him awake from his nap. She told him we must put the armrest down for safety and I need to be able to fit in the seat and put my seat belt on.

“He put up a complaint that he is 6’5″ but we were able to get the armrest down and he moved his leg straighter so our thighs were no longer touching.”

When the poster initially tried asking the man directly to put down the armrest, she said he replied: “I could try.”

The experience left her so unsettled that she temporarily removed herself from the situation. “I was in the back when I made this post and I first stayed in the bathroom an extra long time and then I was standing in the back,” she wrote. “The leg touching was very uncomfortable and I didn’t want to go back to my seat.”

The Reddit post sparked swift reactions, with users sharply criticizing the man’s response and lack of spatial awareness.

“Some people really have zero boundaries. It’s infuriating,” wrote u/ProfessorRealistic86. Another commenter, u/Traditional-Buddy136, reacted to the attached image by saying: “Good Lord. That’s an entire leg.”

Others pointed out inappropriate body language, with u/Intelligent-Award881 adding: “And then the hand in the crotch thing. Bro, find another place and time for that.”

Seat-belt safety has also become part of the debate. One Reddit commenter, u/tireddoc1, criticized the passenger’s dismissive remark, writing: “Such an ignorant comment about the seat belt.”

U/Rubes2525 added: “Seatbelts are also to make sure you don’t slam your head on the ceiling in case of turbulence. Keeping your seat belts fastened during the flight has little to do about a potential crash.”

Some Reddit users called for better passenger education. “They should play a video on [airplane etiquette] before playing the safety video,” suggested u/Constant-Juggernaut2.

Newsweek has contacted the original poster for comment via the Reddit messaging system.

Stock image: A flight attendant directs a woman on a plane toward a seat. Getty

Do you have a travel-related story to share? Let us know via life@newsweek.com and your story could be featured on Newsweek.

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August 19, 2025
Air Canada Warns Rebooking Some Cancelled Flights May Be Impossible

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With a possible flight attendant strike looming, Air Canada is warning that it might be impossible for some passenger to rebook their cancelled flights in an acceptable time frame.

“A planned strike by CUPE, the union representing 10,000 flight attendants at Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge, is expected to begin Saturday, Aug. 16 at 01:00 ET,” the airline wrote on its website.

“To provide our customers with certainty, we have begun a phased wind-down of most of our operations, to be completed over the next two days.”

Air Canada Warns That Due to ‘Available Capacity’ on Other Carriers, the Possibility of ‘Rebooking You Within an Acceptable Timeframe Is Low’

Air Canada is cautioning passengers that they may have difficulties keeping their current booking.

“If you opt to keep your current booking and your flight is cancelled due to a labour disruption, Air Canada will attempt to rebook you on another flight, including those operated by other airlines,” the airline wrote.

“However, available capacity on our airline and on other carriers is limited due to the summer travel peak, meaning the possibility of rebooking you within an acceptable timeframe is low. If your travel is disrupted, you can always choose a refund.”

Frankfurt, Germany – February 13, 2021: Air Canada Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner airplane at Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in Germany.

Getty Images

Air Canada does note that “if you are booked to travel between Aug. 15 and Aug. 18 and would like to make alternate travel arrangements, you can change your flight for free if you purchased an Air Canada ticket or redeemed points for an Aeroplan flight reward no later than Aug. 14, 2025.”

“If you’re scheduled to travel during this period, you can retrieve your booking to change to another Air Canada flight, for free on Aug. 15, 2025 or another date between Aug. 21 and Sept. 12, 2025,” the airline wrote.

Passengers May Qualify for a Travel Credit, Air Canada Says

An Air Canada aircraft departs Toronto Pearson International Airport and flies over the grandstand Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Canada, on May 11, 2025. (Photo by Mike Campbell/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

NurPhoto/Getty Images

There are other options.

“If you purchased a non-refundable fare, you may cancel your itinerary and receive the unused portion of your ticket in your AC Wallet or as a Future Travel Credit to use on your next Air Canada booking,” wrote the airline.

“If you purchased your ticket with Air Canada Vacations, please reach out to them directly. If you purchased an Aeroplan flight reward, you can cancel without a fee on our website,” Air Canada wrote.

“We appreciate your patience while we work to get you on your way,” insisted Air Canada. “Rest assured that we will notify you of any impact to your flight itinerary in advance of your travel.”

Related: Southwest Airlines Announces ‘Unprecedented’ Change Amid Free Bag Outrage

Air Canada Warns Rebooking Some Cancelled Flights May Be Impossible first appeared on Men’s Journal on Aug 15, 2025

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August 18, 2025
Bette Nash, world’s longest-serving flight attendant and aviation industry icon, dies at 88

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After serving the skies for nearly 67 years, Bette Nash, the world’s longest-tenured flight attendant, has died at 88 years old.

“It is with sadness that we inform you of the passing of our dear colleague, Bette Nash, the longest-tenured flight attendant at American Airlines,” according to a memo to flight attendants on Saturday obtained by ABC News.

Nash died on May 17 in hospice care after a recent breast cancer diagnosis, though she never officially retired from her role with American Airlines.

Nash began her career in Washington, D.C., in 1957 with Eastern Airlines, which later became American Airlines. Despite being able to choose any route in the world, Nash primarily worked the DC-NY-Boston Shuttle so she could be home every night to care for her son who has Down syndrome.

In 2022, she was honored with the Guinness World Record title for longest-serving flight attendant.

“With her quick wit, magnetic personality and passion for serving others, Bette set an example not just for the flight attendant profession but for all of us in the airline industry,” Brady Byrnes, senior vice president of Inflight & Premium Guest Services for American Airlines, said in the memo.

When Nash first started her aviation career, passengers would purchase life insurance from a vending machine before boarding — and flights cost $12 between New York and Washington. D.C., she told ABC News in a 2022 interview.

At the time, Nash reflected on the strict restrictions regarding weight and personal relationships she and other flight attendants had to endure to maintain their careers.

Nash said the airline would check on her at home to ensure she wasn’t living with a man because flight attendants had to be single. The airline also weighed her before shifts and could suspend her if she gained too much weight, she said.

“You had to be a certain height, you had to be a certain weight. It used to be horrible. You put on a few pounds and you had to keep weighing yourself, and then if you stayed that way, they would take you off the payroll,” Nash said during a flight in 2017 with ABC affiliate WJLA’s cameras onboard.

Before her passing, Nash attended regular flight attendant training per Federal Aviation Administration rules.

“Bette was an industry icon, and those who flew with her knew her as a role model and consummate professional,” the airline said in the memo, adding, “Fly high, Bette. You’ll be missed.”

Copyright © 2024 ABC News Internet Ventures.

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ABCNews

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May 25, 2024
Flight attendant gets creative when incubator with ‘rare’ flamingo eggs stops working

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A baby Chilean flamingo was named after an Alaska Airline flight attendant’s granddaughter. The woman helped a zoo worker incubate the eggs when the machine stopped working.

Jeremy Dwyer-Lindgren

Woodland Park Zoo

A zoo worker was carrying “rare” flamingo eggs on a flight from Atlanta to Seattle when the incubator stopped working, airline officials said.

But a flight attendant named Amber had a creative solution, Alaska Airlines said in Feb. 5 news release.

“A passenger rang the call button and asked if I would help keep some eggs warm,” Amber told airline officials.

The incubator carrying six Chilean flamingo eggs had stopped working during the August flight, and the Woodland Park Zoo worker needed some help, officials said.

Flight attendant, passengers help zoo worker

At first she was confused by his request, but then she had an idea to fill gloves with warm water.

The zoo worker used the gloves — along with coats and scarves from other passengers — to keep the eggs warm, the airline said.

Amber and other flight attendants on board refilled the gloves with warm water throughout the flight to keep the flamingo eggs warm, the airline said.

The Seattle zoo then called her months later and asked if she’d like to meet the chicks. All six of them had hatched.

Amber is pictured with her granddaughter, Sunny, as the two meet the baby flamingos in Seattle. Woodland Park Zoo

She brought her granddaughter, Sunny, and greeted the gray, fluffy creatures with long legs.

Zoo officials said they named one of the chicks after her granddaughter. The other five flamingos were named Magdalena, Amaya, Rosales, Gonzo and Bernardo.

Chilean flamingos last hatched at the zoo in 2016. Now the zoo has 49 Chilean flamingos in its flock.

“I was honored and so happy that the chicks had hatched—all six of them!” she told the airline.

What to know about Chilean flamingos

The flamingos are found in the grasslands and mountains in South America, according to Zoo Atlanta.

These animals become pink in color after two to three years and stand over 3 feet tall and weigh less than 5 pounds, the zoo said.

A female flamingo will lay one egg at a time in a “mounded nest of mud.”

The flamingo has a lifespan of 40 to 50 years in zoos and in the wild, according to the zoo.

Helena Wegner is a McClatchy National Real-Time Reporter covering the state of Washington and the western region. She’s a journalism graduate from Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. She’s based in Phoenix.

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February 7, 2024
Flight attendants claim United took them off Dodgers’ charter flights for not being ‘white, young, thin’

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Two United Airlines flight attendants claim in a lawsuit that they were passed over for the plum assignment of working on charter flights for the Dodgers because the players prefer a “certain look” of “white, young, thin women who are predominately blond and blue-eyed.”

In a lawsuit filed Wednesday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, Dawn Todd and Darby Quezada alleged harassment and/or discrimination based on race, national origin, religion and age in regard to the staffing of United’s charter flights for the Dodgers and their treatment by coworkers on those flights. Todd, 50, is Black, and Quezada, 44, is of Mexican, Black and Jewish descent.

The Dodgers are not named as defendants in the lawsuit. A team spokesperson told The Times that the Dodgers do not comment on any pending litigation.

United responded to questions from The Times with a statement.

“United fosters an environment of inclusion and does not tolerate discrimination of any kind,” the company wrote in an email. “We believe this lawsuit is without merit and intend to defend ourselves vigorously.”

According to the lawsuit, Todd and Quezada both have worked for United for more than 15 years and had spent more than a decade trying to join the airline’s program that staffs the Dodgers’ flights. Such assignments can bring attendants up to three times the compensation of typical assignments because of longer flight times and other perks.

“Plaintiffs had the necessary experience and qualifications,” the lawsuit states, “but their requests were dismissed and rejected because Plaintiffs were not white.”

Two other United flight attendants sued the airline in 2020 for allegedly staffing teams’ flights with “young, white, female, and predominately blond/blue-eyed” flight attendants. The case was settled out of court in March 2021.

That led the way for Todd and Quesada to become members of the Dodgers charter flight program, according to the current lawsuit, but only “after extensive interviews.”

According to the lawsuit, “things changed again in 2022 when several white United flight attendants were added to the ‘dedicated crew.’ But, unlike Todd and Quezada, these white United flight attendants did not have to interview for these coveted positions. …

“Instead, these white flight attendants were blatantly selected by United’s management … because of how they looked: they are white, young, thin women who are predominately blond and blue-eyed. When Todd and Quezada asked United why certain flight attendants were added … without having to interview like they did, Todd and Quezada were told that these white flight attendants fit a ‘certain look’ that the Dodgers players liked.”

The lawsuit states that Todd and Quezada started receiving fewer assignments to Dodgers flights ended up being demoted within the program, and Quezada eventually was removed “without any justification.”

Todd and Quezada are seeking a jury trial and an unspecified amount in damages.

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Chuck Schilken

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October 27, 2023
‘This is not my Joe’: Wife defends off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot who tried to disable jet

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The wife of the Alaska Airlines pilot accused of attempting to shut down the engines on a plane flying from Seattle to San Francisco said the husband she knew would not commit the alleged crime, according to local outlets.

“This is not my Joe. This is not any Joe that anybody knows,” said Sarah Stretch, the wife of longtime Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson, according to Oregon Live. “I can’t explain it but it just wasn’t him.”

Stretch’s comments came Thursday after Emerson had his first appearance in U.S. District Court in Portland. His attorneys did not immediately seek Emerson’s release and he was ordered held pending a trial.

Emerson was off duty and flying in the cockpit “jump seat” on a Horizon Airlines flight from Seattle to San Francisco on Sunday when he suddenly told the two on-duty pilots, “I am not OK,” according to federal prosecutors.

Emerson grabbed the plane’s red fire emergency handles, which are used to put out engine fires and shut down fuel to the engines, according to prosecutors. The two pilots wrestled with Emerson and were able to get him out of the cockpit. He was cuffed by flight attendants and the plane made an emergency landing in Portland, where Emerson was arrested.

Emerson told investigators that he had taken psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours prior to the flight and that he was suffering from depression for the last six months, according to court documents. He also said he had not slept in 40 hours.

Emerson’s attorney thanked the crew on the flight for their “timely and heroic actions,” according to Oregon Live.

“Mr. Emerson did not intend to harm himself or any other person,” his attorney, Ethan Levi, told reporters after court. “He was not suicidal or homicidal.”

During his court appearance, Emerson turned to his family and whispered, “I love you,” according to Oregon Live.

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Noah Goldberg

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October 27, 2023
Off-duty pilot booked on 83 counts of attempted murder after allegedly trying to shut down plane’s engines

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An off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot was booked Monday on 83 counts of attempted murder after he tried to “disrupt the operation” of the engines of a plane he was aboard, according to the airline.

Joseph Emerson, 44, a pilot for Alaska Airlines, was on a Sunday flight operated by Horizon Airlines from Seattle to San Francisco when he tried to take over the aircraft, the airline said. Emerson was riding in the “jump seat,” which is an additional seat that is often used for flight attendants to sit in during takeoff and landing.

Horizon Airlines is a regional carrier owned by the parent company that owns Alaska Airlines.

He made it into the cockpit before he was subdued, according to the Port of Portland Police.

The flight was diverted to Portland International Airport. It landed around 6:30 p.m., and Emerson was arrested by the Port of Portland Police.

“The jump seat occupant unsuccessfully attempted to disrupt the operation of the engines. The Horizon Captain and First Officer quickly responded, engine power was not lost and the crew secured the aircraft without incident,” a spokesperson for Alaska Airlines said in a statement. “All passengers on board were able to travel on a later flight. We are grateful for the professional handling of the situation by the Horizon flight crew and appreciate our guests’ calm and patience throughout this event.”

Along with the attempted murder counts — one for each occupant of the plane — Emerson was booked on 83 counts of reckless endangerment and one count of endangering an aircraft, according to online court records.

“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,” the pilot told Seattle-area air traffic controllers, the Mercury News reported. “I think he’s subdued. Other than that, we want law enforcement as soon as we get on the ground and are parked.”

The Port of Portland Police did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Noah Goldberg

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October 23, 2023