PORTLAND, OR -- The FBI is investigating what some are calling an attempted hijacking of a Horizon Air flight that landed in Portland Sunday evening. The flight from Everett, WA was bound for San Francisco, CA.
An off-duty pilot is accused of interfering with flight operations and the plane was diverted to PDX, where Joseph Emerson was arrested by Port of Portland Police.
Emerson faces 83 counts of Attempted Murder, 83 counts of Reckless Endangering and Endangering an Aircraft. He’s expected to appear in a Multnomah County courtroom Tuesday.
Kieran Ramsey, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Portland Field Office, issued a statement Monday morning:
One man is under arrest on state charges, booked by the Port of Portland Police Department, after an incident in the air on Horizon Air flight 2059 from Everett, WA to San Francisco, CA. The airplane's pilot was able to safely land the plane at Portland International Airport around 6:25pm on Sunday, October 22. No injuries were reported. The FBI is investigating and can assure the traveling public there is no continuing threat related to this incident.
