Joseph Emerson biography: 13 things about Pleasant Hill, California pilot

Joseph David Emerson is an American licensed pilot from Pleasant Hill, Contra Costa County, California, United States. He is John Emerson‘s son.

Joseph and his wife Sarah Stretch Emerson have two sons together. She teaches physical education at a community college.

Throughout Joseph’s career as a pilot, he completed his mandated Federal Aviation Administration medical certifications in accordance with regulatory requirements. He Joseph is 6’1″ tall and his registered weight s 210 pounds.

At no point were Joseph’s FAA certifications denied, suspended or revoked before his arrest on October 23, 2023. Here are 13 more things about him:

1. In August 2001, he joined Alaska Air Group as a Horizon Air first officer.
2. On April 14, 2012, he wrote on Twitter, “On my way to take a drug test. Couldn’t be any happier.”
3. In June 2012, he left Horizon Air to join Virgin America as a pilot.
4. In 2016, Alaska Airlines acquired Virgin America. He became an Alaska Airlines first officer.
5. In 2019, he became an Alaska Airlines captain.
6. On July 24, 2020, he wrote on Twitter, “@SenFeinstein, as a #pilot and as your constituent, I am asking you to pass an extension of the #PayrollSupportProgram through 3/31/21. #pilots and #frontline workers need your support to keep the #aviation industry and U.S. economy strong.”
7. On December 11, 2020, he wrote on Twitter, “The future of air travel remains highly depressed. Immediate relief for the #airline industry is critical @SpeakerPelosi, @SenateMajLdr, @RepDeSaulnier, and @WhiteHouse to support our economic rebuilding. Don’t let our voices go unheard!”
8. On October 20, 2023, he took psychedelic mushrooms for the first time, according to him.
9. On October 22, 2023, Alaska Airlines Flight 2059 operated by Horizon Air from Everett, Snohomish County, Washington, USA to San Francisco, California reported a credible security threat related to him while he was off-duty and traveling in the flight deck jump seat. He unsuccessfully tried to disrupt the operation of the engines.
10. At 4:11 a.m. on October 23, 2023, he was arrested by the Port of Portland Police Department in Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon, USA. He was booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center in Portland without bail.
11. On October 24, 2023, he pleaded not guilty to endangering an aircraft, 83 counts of first-degree attempted murder and 83 counts of reckless endangerment. He was not suicidal, according to his defense attorney Ethan Levi. On October 26, 2023, he made his first federal court appearance before Judge Youlee Yim You in Portland, which was attended by his father, Sarah and Sarah’s father, and the judge issued an order of detention for him.
12. On December 5, 2023, he was indicted on one count of endangering aircraft in the first degree and 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person.
13. He was 44 years old when he was arraigned on December 7, 2023 in Oregon. The judge said he could be released from jail pending trial and as part of his release, he was required to post $5,000 of a $50,000 bail in Multnomah County.