PORTLAND, Ore. - An ex-Alaska Airlines pilot accused of attempting to cut the engines of a passenger flight while off-duty and riding in an extra seat in the cockpit has been granted release from jail pending trial, a Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge announced on Thursday.

Joseph Emerson, a resident of Pleasant Hill, California, pleaded not guilty to reduced charges of reckless endangerment, after initially facing charges of attempted murder. The judge in the federal case, charging Emerson with interfering with a flight crew, also agreed to his release pending trial.

As part of the agreed release conditions between defense attorneys and prosecutors, Emerson will be required to undergo mental health services, abstain from drugs and alcohol, and maintain a distance of 30 feet (9 meters) from an operable aircraft. His bail was set at $50,000, and he needed to post 10% of that, or $5,000, for release.

Emerson's wife, Sarah Stretch, expressed her relief at her husband's upcoming return home. Tearfully addressing reporters after the arraignment, she acknowledged that while the situation had negatively affected her husband and those involved, she believed it had also drawn attention to the issue of pilot mental health.

"I'm saddened that this situation had to happen to my husband and to the people it affected. But I know that this has created a movement and momentum to help thousands of other pilots," Stretch said.

Noah Horst, Emerson's defense attorney, argued that his client lacked full mental capacity during the incident on the Horizon Air flight and did not intentionally put lives at risk.

"Is he criminally responsible? No. Does he need help? Yes," Horst stated to reporters. "Does Mr. Emerson deserve to be home today with his family and surrounded by his friends? Yes, he does."

Emerson is accused of trying to tamper with the engines of a Horizon Air flight traveling from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco on October 22 while occupying a seat in the cockpit as an off-duty pilot.

Emerson is expected to be released later in the afternoon.

Overall, this case has shed light on the importance of mental health support for pilots and the need for continued awareness and preventative measures within the aviation industry.