Released on Bond: Ex-Alaska Airlines Pilot Pleads Not Guilty in Attempted Mid-Flight Sabotage

An ex-Alaska Airlines pilot accused of attempting to cut the engines of a passenger flight while off-duty can be released from jail pending trial, according to an Oregon judge. The pilot, Joseph Emerson, pleaded not guilty to reduced charges of reckless endangerment. He has also pleaded not guilty to a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew. The release conditions include undergoing mental health services, abstaining from drugs and alcohol, and staying away from operable aircraft. Emerson's wife expressed relief that her husband was coming home and hoped that the case would raise awareness about pilot mental health. Emerson's defense attorney argued that he was not fully mentally competent during the incident.