‘Trapped, disconnected from reality’: Pilot blames ‘magic mushrooms’ for mid-flight attempt to disable engines

Joseph Emerson, an off-duty pilot, claimed psychedelic mushrooms led him to attempt engine shutdown on an Alaska Airlines flight. Emerson, grappling with mental distress following a friend’s death, tried to pull fire extinguisher handles mid-flight. Crew members subdued him, leading to an emergency landing in Portland.