Ex-Pilot’s Attempt to Disable Passenger Jet Exposes Dangerous Cockpit Security Flaws

In the shadow of one of aviation's most harrowing near-disasters, the unsettling truth about cockpit access and pilot mental fitness demands immediate scrutiny. Joseph Emerson, a former Alaska Airlines pilot, nearly plunged a Horizon Air flight into catastrophe when he attempted to cut its engines while riding off-duty in the cockpit.This terrifying episode on October 22, 2023—where more than 80 passengers were endangered—was narrowly averted thanks to quick action by the flight crew. Yet it starkly exposes systemic vulnerabilities that put American travelers at risk.Are We Sacrificing Safety for Convenience?Emerson’s plea agreements with state and federal prosecutors come as no...