An averted flight disaster puts the mental health of pilots in the spotlight

By James On Oct 26, 2023

What authorities describe as an off-duty pilot’s attempt to disable the engines of a Horizon Air flight with more than 80 people on board has placed renewed attention on the mental fitness of those allowed in the cockpit.

Joseph Emerson had been carrying passengers himself just three days before police say he tried to activate an emergency fire suppression system while taking a trip from Washington state to San Francisco on October 22 in the extra seat behind the pilot and first officer of flight 2059. He was subdued by the flight crew and the aircraft landed safely in Portland, Oregon.

Mr. Emerson, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, told police after his arrest that he had suffered a nervous breakdown, was suffering from depression and the recent death of a friend, and had not slept in 40 hours. according to charging documents.

Mr. Emerson also said he had used psychedelic mushrooms for the first time about 48 hours earlier. It is not clear whether he used them recreationally or in an attempt to self-medicate. The pilots and others who encountered Mr. Emerson said he did not appear drunk.

Here’s a look at some of the issues raised in the gripping cockpit episode:

How are pilots screened for mental health?

Airline pilots must renew their medical certificates regularly: annually for those under 40 and every six months for those older. That includes filling out forms where they must reveal whether they have had depression, anxiety or drug or alcohol addiction, as well as the medications they are taking.

The foundation of that system is trust, says Shawn Pruchnicki, a former pilot who teaches aviation safety at Ohio State University.

“The idea is that you will confess to any illness or problem you have,” he said.

Pilots who do so risk being grounded, at least temporarily, while the Federal Aviation Administration determines whether they are fit to fly. Pilots can also be grounded after family members or colleagues report their concerns.

According to FAA records, Mr. Emerson had his most recent exam in September.

The government in 2010 began allowing some pilots receiving medications for mild to moderate depression to continue flying on a case-by-case basis, and some airlines have introduced confidential programs to help struggling workers. The Air Line Pilots Association also offers a 24-hour, peer-to-peer stress hotline, staffed by volunteer pilots.

“The FAA encourages pilots to seek help if they have a mental illness as most pilots receiving treatment will not disqualify a pilot from flying,” the organization said in an emailed statement.

Some conditions, including bipolar disorder and psychosis, lead to disqualification.

Struggling pilots need to speak up because even if they are temporarily grounded, it’s better than ruining their careers and potentially costing lives with a more disastrous event on the horizon, says Dr. Warren Silberman, former chief of aeromedical certification for the Federal Aviation Administration. .

Investigators concluded that this is what happened aboard a Germanwings plane in 2015, when the co-pilot deliberately crashed the plane in the French Alps, killing 150 people.

What about drug or alcohol use?

The U.S. Department of Transportation maintains a mandatory drug testing program for pilots or flight attendants, which may include random testing before or after a flight, or testing based on reasonable suspicion. The tests look for opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana and some other drugs – but not psychedelics.

The effects of psychedelic mushrooms typically last about six hours. They are usually no longer detectable in the urine 24 hours after ingestion.

Alaska Airlines, which owns Horizon Air, said it has a zero-tolerance policy and that all gate agents and flight attendants are trained to identify signs of impairment.

The Horizon flight flight crew and police who interviewed Mr. Emerson afterwards said he appeared to have no disabilities.

There are no specific guidelines regarding pilots’ off-duty behavior, but Mr. Pruchnicki warned that drugs can show up in any test long after their effects have worn off.

“Is that something you want to do on your days off?” he said. “And how does that fit into your mindset as a professional pilot?”

Many pilots get a ride in the cockpit jump seats every day as a way to commute between locations after making flights. Mr. Pruchnicki said he did not think they should be subjected to random testing because they are off duty and do not make operational decisions about the flights. Pilots can ban them from the cockpit if they cause problems.

“I don’t believe that one extremely rare event necessarily means that we need to completely overhaul the entire system,” Mr. Pruchnicki said.

What are the effects of psychedelic mushrooms?

Although psilocybin remains illegal in most of the United States, it is gaining acceptance as a potential therapy in the country. The Food and Drug Administration this summer published draft guidelines for researchers designing clinical trials for psychedelic drugs to treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance abuse disorders and other conditions.

Such hallucinogens have been used by the indigenous peoples of the Americas since pre-Columbian times to induce altered states of consciousness and healing. Users have described a variety of experiences, from vibrant geometric shapes, patterns and colors to a sense of oneness with the universe.

Oregon became the first state to legalize psilocybin in 2020 after voters approved a measure allowing the production and controlled, therapeutic use of psilocybin for people 21 or older.

It is unclear what prompted the episode on Horizon Air. Police said Mr. Emerson described being in a dream-like state.