Off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot Joseph Emerson pleads NOT GUILTY to 83 counts of reckless endangerment after trying to shut down plane engines while high on magic mushrooms
- Joseph Emerson pleaded not guilty Thursday to reckless endangerment.
- Pilot accused of trying to shoot down passenger plane in October
- He claimed that the stupor caused by the magic mushroom almost caused the disaster.
A pilot on leave from duty who allegedly nearly brought down a passenger plane after taking psychedelic magic mushrooms has pleaded not guilty to 83 counts of reckless endangerment.
Joseph David Emerson, 44, allegedly tried to turn off the engines of an Alaska Airlines plane during the Oct. 22 flight after he admitted to taking hallucinogenic drugs that left him in a stupor two days earlier.
The pilot and father of two was arraigned in Multnomah District Court in Portland, Oregon, where he appeared Thursday to deny 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person and one count of endangering an aircraft.
After entering a not guilty plea, a judge approved his release from custody as he posted $50,000 bail with the condition of not going within 30 feet of any aircraft.
He will next appear in court on January 19.
Pilot Joe Emerson, 44, said he nearly shot down a passenger plane in October due to a manic psychotic episode induced by magic mushrooms.
The father-of-two (pictured during his previous court appearance on October 24) pleaded not guilty to 83 counts of reckless endangerment.