Alaska Airlines flight AS2059 diverts after off-duty pilot attempts to disable engines

Alaska Airlines flight AS2059 from Everett to San Francisco

Alaska Airlines flight AS2059, en route to San Francisco, was diverted to Portland, Oregon, when an off-duty pilot inside the cockpit attempted to turn off the aircraft engines. The suspect, 44-year-old man, was apprehended and booked on 83 counts of attempted murder and endangering an airplane by the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office after being arrested by Port of Portland police.

The aircraft involved in the incident is an Embraer 170-200LR, registered as N660QX.

Source: Johnnyw3, Public Domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The incident occurred on Sunday (22), prompting the pilot to alert FAA air traffic control about the situation. The off-duty pilot attempted to turn off the engines using the fire suppression system, but the flight crew successfully subdued him, and the engines were not disabled, as confirmed by Alaska Airlines.

Port of Portland police officers took the suspect into custody upon landing, stating that the investigation is ongoing. The FBI in Portland reassured the public that there was no continuing threat related to the incident.

The FAA confirmed that the incident was unrelated to ongoing global events but emphasized the importance of permanent vigilance. All passengers on board the flight were able to travel on a later flight.