(Portland, OR) -- New details are coming to light about the former off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to shut down the engines on a plane carrying more than 80 people. Fellow pilot Sean Calhoun at NRI Flying Club in the East Bay says Joseph Emerson's actions were out of character. Calhoun describes Emerson as an exemplary pilot who was professional and safe. Emerson's wife said Thursday she knew he was struggling with depression but that he never would have "knowingly done" what he's accused of doing. Court documents say Emerson told officers he had taken magic mushrooms 48 hours before the incident and that he thought he was dreaming when he tried to cut the plane's engines mid-flight. The Horizon Air flight from Everett to San Francisco was diverted to Portland on Sunday after Emerson tried to activate the fire suppression system and cut off fuel to the jet's engines before flight crew subdued him.