A former Alaska Airlines pilot accused of trying to cut the engines of a Horizon Air flight will not face charges of attempted murder.

Joseph Emerson has been indicted on 84 endangerment charges – for each person on the plane – and one charge of endangering an aircraft.

He previously pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges filed by state prosecutors and to a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew.

Prosecutors have accused Emerson, 44, of trying to cut the engines on the 22 October flight from Everett, Washington state, to San Francisco while riding in the extra seat in the cockpit.

The FBI said in an affidavit that after a brief struggle, he left the cockpit and attendants put him in wrist restraints and seated him in the back of the aircraft which was diverted to Portland.

According to charging documents, Emerson told Port of Portland police he had been struggling with depression, that a friend had recently died and that he had taken psychedelic mushrooms about 48 hours before he attempted to cut the engines.

He also said he had not slept in more than 40 hours.

Texas woman asks court to let her have an abortion

Panera Bread’s caffeinated Charged Lemonade drinks blamed for two deaths in US

Taylor Swift crowned Time magazine’s Person of the Year

Emerson’s defence lawyers welcomed the grand jury’s decision.

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

“The attempted murder charges were never appropriate in this case because Captain Emerson never intended to hurt another person or put anyone at risk – he just wanted to return home to his wife and children.

“Simply put: Captain Emerson thought he was in a dream.”

Emerson remains in custody in Multnomah County, Oregon.

Related posts:

With 100 days to go, 70% of Japanese don’t want Tokyo Olympics to go ahead, poll finds Sweden faces sperm shortage as potential donors avoid hospitals during pandemic Afghanistan must not become ‘breeding ground for terror’ once again , PM says Finger of blame for Taliban crisis in Afghanistan can be pointed in many directions Man wrongly accused of starting wildfires murdered and burned by mob Doping watchdog to review cannabis ban after top US athlete forced to miss Tokyo Olympics ‘Absolutely horrifying’: Two Save the Children staff among 35 people killed in Myanmar attack Canadian truckers protest COVID mandate as some demonstrators dance on war memorials Cocaine found in coffee sent to Swiss Nespresso factory Arsenal stars honour stabbed teammate – as update given on his condition At least 11 dead as heavy rains from Typhoon Doksuri batter Beijing Woman guilty of assisting female genital mutilation of British girl, 3, on trip to Kenya