ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – A former Alaska Airlines pilot is speaking out about mental health in the workplace following an incident in 2023 where prosecutors say he tried to turn off the engines of a plane mid-flight after he was feeling the effects of magic mushrooms while off duty.
The flight diverted and landed safely in Portland Oregon. Joe Emerson was arrested, but the incident sparked a growing debate over pilot mental health.
A 2022 study estimated 56% of pilots avoid seeking medical care due to fear of being grounded…