PORTLAND, Ore. — A former Alaska Airlines pilot is facing sentencing on Monday in federal court, following a dramatic incident in 2023 where he attempted to disable the engines of a passenger jet while off-duty in the cockpit.

Joseph Emerson, who accepted responsibility for his actions by pleading guilty or no-contest to all charges in September, did so as part of agreements made with both state and federal prosecutors. His attorney, Noah Horst, indicated that Emerson sought to take accountability for his conduct and hoped to minimize any additional jail time.

In the federal proceedings, prosecutors are recommending a one-year prison sentence, whereas Emerson’s defense team is advocating for probation.

The incident occurred on October 22, 2023, during a Horizon Air flight traveling from Everett, Washington, to San Francisco. Emerson, occupying an auxiliary seat in the cockpit, attempted to shut down the plane’s engines but was successfully restrained by the flight crew. The aircraft, carrying over 80 passengers, was safely diverted to Portland, where it landed without further incident.

Following his arrest, Emerson revealed to police that he was in a state of distress due to the recent passing of a friend, had ingested psychedelic mushrooms about two days prior, and had been awake for over 40 hours. He expressed that he believed he was dreaming during the incident and attempted to awaken himself by pulling two red handles, which would have initiated the aircraft’s fire suppression system and cut off the fuel supply to its engines.

Emerson, of Pleasant Hill, California, was charged in federal court with interfering with a flight crew. A state indictment in Oregon separately charged him with 83 counts of endangering another person and one count of endangering an aircraft. He was released from custody pending trial in December 2023, with requirements that he undergo mental health services, stay off drugs and alcohol, and keep away from aircraft.

In September, he pleaded guilty to the federal count and no-contest to the state charges, which carries the same legal effect as a guilty plea.

A state court sentenced him to 50 days in jail, with credit for time served, plus five years of probation, 664 hours of community service — eight hours for each person he endangered — and over $60,000 in restitution, nearly all of it to Alaska Air Group.

Half of his community service can be performed at the pilot health nonprofit Emerson founded after his arrest. He must also undergo assessments for drug and alcohol and mental health treatment, refrain from using any unprescribed drugs, and keep at least 25 feet (7.6 meters) away from operable aircraft unless he has permission from his probation officer.

In their sentencing memo asking for one year in prison, federal prosecutors wrote: “It was only through the heroic actions of the flight crew, who were able to physically restrain the defendant and restore normal operations of the aircraft, that no lives were lost that day.”

However, a pre-sentence report from federal probation officers recommended a sentence of time served with three years of supervised release and six months of home detention, according to the sentencing memo submitted by Emerson’s attorneys.

In that memo, his attorneys requested probation with credit for time served over prison or home detention, arguing that the “robust” state prosecution “resulted in substantial punishment.”

In state court in September, Emerson said he was grateful to the flight crew for restraining him and saving his life, along with those of everyone else on board. He called it “the greatest gift I ever got,” even though he lost his career and wound up in jail, because it forced him to confront his mental health challenges and reliance on alcohol.

“This difficult journey has made me a better father, a better husband, a better member of my community,” he said.

The airline has said that other members of the flight crew had not observed signs of impairment that would have barred Emerson from the cockpit.

The averted disaster renewed attention on cockpit safety and the mental fitness of those allowed in them.