Jump seat pilot tries to shut down engines in-flight?

[Skyray]

Saw this on Twitter, er, X:


Sounds like the jump seat pilot tried to shut down both engines in-flight. Recap of what happened starts at 10:49 here:
https://archive.liveatc.net/kpdx/KPD...2023-0100Z.mp3

Looks like Alaska 2059, PAE to SFO, as it diverted to PDX tonight.

[Zeffy]

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/...035Z/KPAE/KPDX

[BFSGrad]

Perhaps a slightly more difficult operation than on most airliners due to the location and configuration of the engine switches on the E75L.

[Redmo]

Jumpseater attempts to pull fire handles - Horizon E1755

Pretty bizarre incident here. Supposedly an Alaskan Air pilot jumpseating on a Horizon E175 attempted to shut down both engines before being subdued. ATC audio below

You Tube

[WillowRun 6-3]

FAA statement reported

Per The Air Current on X (previously Twitter):

"The FAA sent the following security notice to U.S. carriers, according to a U.S. airline staffer who received the message directly:

'Last night a significant security event occurred on a US Air Carrier involving a validated jump seat passenger attempting to disable aircraft engines while at cruise altitude by deploying the engine fire suppression system. The crew was able to subdue the suspect and was removed from the flight deck. The flight diverted and landed safely. The event remains under investigation by law enforcement, no further details will be provided at this time.'”

[bafanguy]

This is allegedly the guy. Not sure who else would be booked today on 83 counts of attempted murder:

https://www.mcso.us/PAID/Home/Booking/1573087


https://katu.com/amp/news/local/man-...ircraft-at-pdx

[Lake1952]

Can someone review the "threat levels" and what they signify?

[MerseyView]

CAA to ban all pilots from the flight-deck, on flights into and out of the UK?

[Cough]

That's all of us out of a job then!

[BFSGrad]

Originally Posted by Lake1952

Can someone review the "threat levels" and what they signify?

1-disruptive
2-physical
3-threat to life
4-breach (or attempted) of flight deck

Odd circumstance as there was no flight deck breach required.

Post #5 seems to confirm that perp attempted to use engine fire suppression handles (located in overhead panel) rather than engine shutdown switches as I incorrectly assumed in post #3. Don’t know how two strapped-in pilots managed to successfully keep a 6-1, 210 lb jump seater from pulling fire handles.

Assume federal charges to follow?

[Oasis]

Originally Posted by BFSGrad

1-disruptive
2-physical
3-threat to life
4-breach (or attempted) of flight deck

Odd circumstance as there was no flight deck breach required.

Post #5 seems to confirm that perp attempted to use engine fire suppression handles (located in overhead panel) rather than engine shutdown switches as I incorrectly assumed in post #3. Don’t know how two strapped-in pilots managed to successfully keep a 6-1, 210 lb jump seater from pulling fire handles.

Assume federal charges to follow?

Swift punch to the face?

"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" --Mike Tyson

[voyageur9]

Off-duty pilot riding in cockpit accused of attempting to crash Alaska Airlines jet

Off-duty pilot riding in cockpit accused of attempting to crash E175 aircraft

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67177294

https://www.seattletimes.com/busines...-from-everett/

[WillowRun 6-3]

Originally Posted by Oasis

Swift punch to the face?

"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" --Mike Tyson

The vocal tone of the aviators, communicating with ATC (on the recording linked above), sounds rather calm given what had occurred. But then, professional pilots, so.

[nevillestyke]

Originally Posted by Oasis

Swift punch to the face?

"Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" --Mike Tyson

My plan has always been to get punched in the mouth.

[hautemude]

think about it

[5000 metres]

From BBC:

”On Monday, the Federal Aviation Administration sent guidance to US air carriers that the incident was "not connected in any way shape or form to current world events".

“In a statement, the FBI confirmed it was investigating and said it "can assure the traveling public there is no continuing threat related to this incident".

[pattern_is_full]

**sigh** - sometimes folks can't take the strain, and crack. Glad his cockpit mates were on the ball.

https://heavy.com/news/joseph-david-emerson/

[KRviator]

Good thing everyone over there is getting pay rises. All crew who commute might soon be paying full fare SLF ticket prices to sit in back when the FAA bans all but essential & rostered crew from the jumpseats.

[Skyray]

Originally Posted by BFSGrad

Don’t know how two strapped-in pilots managed to successfully keep a 6-1, 210 lb jump seater from pulling fire handles.

Per Alaska via the Seattle Times, it sounds like he did pull the handles, but the pilots were able to reset the handles and keep the engines from shutting down.

Alaska Air spokesperson Alexa Rudin said via email that “fortunately some residual fuel remains in the line, and the quick reaction of our crew to reset the handles restored fuel flow and prevented fuel starvation.”

[bafanguy]

If the Fed Ex incident involving a jump seater didn't kill jump seating, this one won't either:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federa...ess_Flight_705