In a shocking incident on a San Francisco-bound flight, an off-duty pilot of Alaska Airlines, Joseph Emerson, pleaded not guilty to multiple charges after attempting to shut off the plane's engines midflight. Court documents filed on Tuesday revealed that Emerson confessed to taking "magic mushrooms" approximately 48 hours before the disturbing incident occurred.

Emerson's plea included 83 counts of attempted murder and one count of endangering an aircraft, all of which are felonies. Additionally, he pleaded not guilty to 83 counts of reckless endangerment, a misdemeanor. Furthermore, federal prosecutors announced that Emerson was charged with one count of interfering with flight crew members and attendants in a separate case.

According to affidavits filed by an FBI agent and a Multnomah County deputy district attorney, Emerson explained to investigators that he believed he was dreaming and wanted to wake up when he attempted to shut off the engines. He allegedly expressed remorse, stating, "I messed everything up." Officers on the ground reported that Emerson claimed to be experiencing a "nervous breakdown" and had not slept for 40 hours.

In further testimony, Emerson disclosed that he had been struggling with depression for six years, compounded by the recent death of a friend. He admitted to consuming "magic mushrooms" approximately two days prior to the incident. Despite this revelation, the officer interacting with Emerson noted that he did not appear to be outwardly under the influence of intoxicants.

Alaska Airlines expressed deep concern over these revelations, stating that Emerson did not display any signs of impairment before takeoff and that their gate agents and flight crew did not observe any indications of his condition. The airline expressed their cooperation with authorities and emphasized their commitment to passenger safety.

The alarming incident occurred onboard Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 from Everett, Washington. Emerson, sitting in the jump seat of the cockpit, allegedly attempted to activate the plane's emergency fire suppression system, which would have cut off fuel to the engines. The pilots recalled casual conversations with Emerson before the sudden shift in his behavior. He threw his headset across the cockpit and declared, "I am not okay."

According to the documents, Emerson then grabbed and pulled on the red handles that would have triggered the suppression system. However, the pilots managed to prevent him from fully activating it. After struggling for approximately 25 seconds, Emerson calmed down, and the pilots asked him to leave the cockpit, securing the door behind him.

Alerted to the situation, the flight attendants escorted Emerson to the back of the plane, where he complied peacefully. In an unsettling turn of events, as the aircraft was descending towards Portland's airport, Emerson attempted to grab the handle of an emergency exit. A vigilant flight attendant intervened, preventing him from doing so.

While the investigation into the midair scare continues, all eyes remain on the shocking behavior exhibited by Joseph Emerson during the flight. The court proceedings will determine the legal repercussions he will face for his alleged actions, leaving authorities and the public searching for answers as to what led to this dangerous incident.