OFFICIALS HAVE RELEASED NEW INFORMATION ABOUT A SCARE ABOARD AN ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT OVER THE WEEKEND — THE AIRLINE SAYING AN OFF-DUTY PILOT SITTING IN THE JUMP SEAT ON THE PLANE TRIED SHUTTING OFF ITS ENGINES MID-FLIGHT.
ACCORDING TO AUTHORITIES AND THE AIRLINE — THE SUSPECT — FORTY-FOUR YEAR-OLD JOSEPH EMERSON — WAS SUBDUED BY THE FLIGHT CREW AFTER ALLEGEDLY ATTEMPTING TO “DISRUPT THE OPERATION OF THE ENGINES” BY PULLING THE FIRE EXTINGUISHING HANDLES – WHICH WOULD SHUT OFF FUEL TO THE ENGINE.
THE PLANE WAS FORCED TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN PORTLAND OREGON.
THE ALASKA FLIGHT OUT OF EVERETT WASHINGTON WAS ON ITS WAY TO SAN FRANCISCO WHERE OFFICIALS SAY THE SUSPECT WAS SCHEDULED TO BE ON A **FLIGHT CREW** OF ANOTHER PLANE.
NONE OF THE 80 PASSENGERS OR 4 CREW MEMBERS ON THE ALASKA AIRLINES FLIGHT WERE INJURED.
EMERSON WAS ARRESTED AND CHARGED WITH EIGHTY-THREE COUNTS OF ATTEMPTED MURDER.