Off-Duty Pilot’s Midair Scare Sparks Concerns About Mental Health in the Cockpit

So, there was this off-duty pilot, Joseph Emerson, right? He tried to shut down the engines of a Horizon Air flight with over 80 people on board! Can you believe that? It’s got everyone talking about the mental health of pilots. Just three days before this crazy incident, Emerson was actually flying passengers himself. But on this particular flight, he was just catching a ride from Washington state to San Francisco. And guess what? He was sitting right behind the pilot and first officer. Talk about being in the wrong place at the wrong time! Luckily, the flight crew managed to subdue him, and the plane landed safely in Portland, Oregon.

Now, here’s the thing. Emerson, who’s 44 years old, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges. But get this, when the police arrested him, he told them that he had a nervous breakdown, was struggling with depression, and hadn’t slept for 40 hours! And that’s not all. He also mentioned that he had taken psychedelic mushrooms for the first time about 48 hours earlier. Can you imagine? It’s not clear why he took them, but some people say that psilocybin, the active ingredient in those mushrooms, can actually help with mental health. But hey, I’m not a doctor, so don’t quote me on that.

Anyway, let’s talk about the bigger issue here. You see, airline pilots have to renew their medical certificates regularly. If they’ve had any mental health issues or have been dependent on drugs or alcohol, they have to disclose it. It’s all about trust, you know? But sometimes, pilots can risk being grounded if they admit to having problems. And sometimes, their relatives or coworkers can report concerns about their mental health too.

Now, Emerson had his most recent medical exam in September, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. And get this, the FAA actually allows some pilots with mild to moderate depression to keep flying on a case-by-case basis. They even have confidential programs to help struggling pilots. The FAA says that most mental health conditions, if treated, don’t disqualify a pilot from flying. But there are some conditions, like bipolar disorder and psychosis, that can disqualify them.

So, what’s the takeaway from all of this? Well, if pilots are struggling with their mental health, they should speak up and get help. It’s better to be temporarily grounded than to risk ruining their career or causing a disaster. Just look at what happened with that Germanwings plane in 2015. The copilot deliberately crashed the aircraft, killing 150 people. We definitely don’t want a repeat of that.

Now, when it comes to drug testing, the Department of Transportation has a program for on-duty pilots and flight attendants. They test for drugs like opioids, cocaine, and marijuana, but not psychedelics. And speaking of psychedelics, the effects of psychedelic mushrooms usually last about six hours, and they’re usually not detectable in urine after 24 hours.

Alaska Airlines, the owner of Horizon Air, has a zero-tolerance policy for impairment. They train their gate agents and flight attendants to identify signs of impairment. And in this case, both the flight crew and the police who interviewed Emerson said that he didn’t appear to be impaired.

So, what’s the bottom line? Well, there’s no specific guidance on pilot behavior when they’re off-duty. But it’s important for pilots to think about the consequences of their actions, even on their days off. And as for the whole issue of mental health in the cockpit, maybe it’s time to take a closer look at the system and make sure that pilots are getting the support they need. After all, we’re all counting on them to keep us safe in the skies.