Alaskan Airlines Embraer 175
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What could drive an off-duty pilot to sabotage the Alaskan Airlines plane’s engines?
On October 22, 2023, a disturbing incident happened on an Embraer 175 flight from Everett to San Francisco. An off-duty pilot occupying the jump seat attempted to shutdown both its engines.
This unusual incident raised questions about what drove this off-duty pilot to do such an irrational act.
His actions involved pulling the fire extinguishing handle, a move that would not only jeopardise the passengers’ life but also pose a risk to his own too.
The irrationality of this act left many bewildered, as it defied the logic and professionalism expected from a fellow pilot.
As such, this prompted investigators to determine the factors that drove this off-duty pilot, identified as Emerson, to engage in such reckless behaviour.
Emerson reportedly told authorities that he had experienced a nervous breakdown and admitted having consumed psychedelic mushrooms 48 hours before the incident and also his six-year battle with depression.
He allegedly claimed, “I pulled both emergency shut-off handles because I thought I was dreaming and I just wanna wake up.”
Emerson’s action, by physically pulling the two red fire handles, could have triggered the plane’s emergency fire suppression system and cut off fuel to its engines.
Thankfully, the swift response of the on-duty pilots prevented the complete shutdown of the engines as they wrestled with him to prevent further trouble.
As a precaution, the captain diverted the plane to Portland, where Emerson was arrested by airport security.
The above incident does not imply that Emerson has mental issues as the investigation is ongoing.
Nevertheless, commercial pilots typically undergo regular medical examinations, including mental health assessments, every 6 to 12 months.
While actual incidents of pilot suicides are rare, they have occurred in the past, as illustrated by the
Germanwings pilot suicide case, the 1994 FedEx incident and another one involving a JetBlue captain.
The parallels between these past incidents and Emerson’s actions highlight the need for identifying and addressing mental health concerns among pilots.
The safety of any flight hinges on the mental stability of those in the cockpit. Thus, it is important that any pilot displaying signs of mental distress be reported to airline management discreetly and responsibly.
The current evaluation system, which relies on self-disclosure, is not entirely effective, as some pilots may be inclined to hide their issues due to the associated stigma and the fear of losing their jobs.
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