* . *
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Earth-News
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Arts/Entertainment: ‘Wait Until Dark’ brings spooky season center stage – Times Herald Online

    Wait Until Dark’ Delivers Chilling Thrills Perfect for the Spooky Season

    Bluesman James Montgomery Will Perform In Falmouth – CapeNews.net

    Blues Legend James Montgomery Ready to Ignite the Stage in Falmouth

    Mexican singer Pedro Fernández to make Ave Fénix tour stop in Stockton. Tickets, schedule – Yahoo

    Mexican Singer Pedro Fernández Brings the Ave Fénix Tour to Stockton – Don’t Miss It!

    Flutter Entertainment’s SWOT Analysis: Uncovering the Growth Potential Amid Challenges

    Dylan Efron Shares Sweet ‘DWTS’ Rehearsal Photos Featuring His Little Sister Olivia – yahoo.com

    Dylan Efron’s Heartwarming ‘DWTS’ Rehearsal Moments with Little Sister Olivia

    Diane Keaton, Oscar-Winning Star of ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘The Godfather,’ Dies at 79 – Yahoo

    Diane Keaton, Oscar-Winning Star of ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘The Godfather,’ Dies at 79 – Yahoo

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary: How a technological marvel for trade changed the environment forever – The Conversation

    Erie Canal’s 200th Anniversary: How a Trade Marvel Transformed the Environment Forever

    Day 5 of Gains Streak for Solidion Technology Stock with 475% Return (vs. -20% YTD) [10/14/2025] – Trefis

    Solidion Technology Stock Rockets for 5th Consecutive Day, Soaring an Astonishing 475% Year-to-Date

    Tracking DNA and RNA Together To Unlock Disease Insights – Technology Networks

    Unlocking Disease Insights by Tracking DNA and RNA Together

    The future of battery technology – Engineer Live

    Revolutionizing Energy: Exploring the Future of Battery Technology

    How Can Boosting Your Travel Experience with Less Technology Lead to a More Relaxing Vacation? All You Need to Know About This Latest Trend – Travel And Tour World

    How Can Boosting Your Travel Experience with Less Technology Lead to a More Relaxing Vacation? All You Need to Know About This Latest Trend – Travel And Tour World

    Davenport CornCon Cybersecurity Conference helps students explore technology, AI use – KWQC

    Davenport CornCon Cybersecurity Conference Ignites Student Passion for Technology and AI Innovations

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Business
  • Entertainment
    Arts/Entertainment: ‘Wait Until Dark’ brings spooky season center stage – Times Herald Online

    Wait Until Dark’ Delivers Chilling Thrills Perfect for the Spooky Season

    Bluesman James Montgomery Will Perform In Falmouth – CapeNews.net

    Blues Legend James Montgomery Ready to Ignite the Stage in Falmouth

    Mexican singer Pedro Fernández to make Ave Fénix tour stop in Stockton. Tickets, schedule – Yahoo

    Mexican Singer Pedro Fernández Brings the Ave Fénix Tour to Stockton – Don’t Miss It!

    Flutter Entertainment’s SWOT Analysis: Uncovering the Growth Potential Amid Challenges

    Dylan Efron Shares Sweet ‘DWTS’ Rehearsal Photos Featuring His Little Sister Olivia – yahoo.com

    Dylan Efron’s Heartwarming ‘DWTS’ Rehearsal Moments with Little Sister Olivia

    Diane Keaton, Oscar-Winning Star of ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘The Godfather,’ Dies at 79 – Yahoo

    Diane Keaton, Oscar-Winning Star of ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘The Godfather,’ Dies at 79 – Yahoo

  • General
  • Health
  • News

    Cracking the Code: Why China’s Economic Challenges Aren’t Shaking Markets, Unlike America’s” – Bloomberg

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Trump’s Narrow Window to Spread the Truth About Harris

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    Israel-Gaza war live updates: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh assassinated in Iran, group says

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    PAP Boss to Niger Delta Youths, Stay Away from the Protest

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Court Restricts Protests In Lagos To Freedom, Peace Park

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Fans React to Jazz Jennings’ Inspiring Weight Loss Journey

    Trending Tags

    • Trump Inauguration
    • United Stated
    • White House
    • Market Stories
    • Election Results
  • Science
  • Sports
  • Technology
    Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary: How a technological marvel for trade changed the environment forever – The Conversation

    Erie Canal’s 200th Anniversary: How a Trade Marvel Transformed the Environment Forever

    Day 5 of Gains Streak for Solidion Technology Stock with 475% Return (vs. -20% YTD) [10/14/2025] – Trefis

    Solidion Technology Stock Rockets for 5th Consecutive Day, Soaring an Astonishing 475% Year-to-Date

    Tracking DNA and RNA Together To Unlock Disease Insights – Technology Networks

    Unlocking Disease Insights by Tracking DNA and RNA Together

    The future of battery technology – Engineer Live

    Revolutionizing Energy: Exploring the Future of Battery Technology

    How Can Boosting Your Travel Experience with Less Technology Lead to a More Relaxing Vacation? All You Need to Know About This Latest Trend – Travel And Tour World

    How Can Boosting Your Travel Experience with Less Technology Lead to a More Relaxing Vacation? All You Need to Know About This Latest Trend – Travel And Tour World

    Davenport CornCon Cybersecurity Conference helps students explore technology, AI use – KWQC

    Davenport CornCon Cybersecurity Conference Ignites Student Passion for Technology and AI Innovations

    Trending Tags

    • Nintendo Switch
    • CES 2017
    • Playstation 4 Pro
    • Mark Zuckerberg
No Result
View All Result
Earth-News
No Result
View All Result
Home Science

Averted flight disaster puts spotlight on pilot mental health

October 26, 2023
in Science
Averted flight disaster puts spotlight on pilot mental health
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

What authorities describe as an off-duty pilot’s attempt to shut down the engines of a Horizon Air flight with more than 80 people on board has renewed attention on the mental fitness of those allowed in the cockpit.

Joseph Emerson had been flying passengers himself just three days before police said he tried to engage an emergency fire suppression system while catching a ride from Washington state to San Francisco on Oct. 22 in the extra seat behind the pilot and first officer on Flight 2059. He was subdued by the flight crew, and the plane landed safely in Portland, Oregon.

Mr. Emerson, who has pleaded not guilty to attempted murder charges, told police after his arrest that he’d had a nervous breakdown, had been struggling with depression and the recent death of a friend, and hadn’t slept for 40 hours, according to charging documents.

Mr. Emerson also said he had taken psychedelic mushrooms for the first time about 48 hours earlier. It’s not clear whether he took them recreationally or in an attempt to self-medicate. The pilots and others who encountered Mr. Emerson said he did not appear intoxicated.

Here’s a look at some of the issues raised by the harrowing cockpit episode: 

How are pilots screened for mental health?

Airline pilots are required to renew their medical certificates regularly – annually for those younger than 40 and every six months for those older. That includes filling out forms where they are required to disclose if they have experienced depression, anxiety, or drug or alcohol dependence, as well as medications they take.

The foundation of that system is trust, said Shawn Pruchnicki, a former pilot who teaches aviation safety at the Ohio State University.

“The idea is that you will confess any diseases or any problems that you have,” he said.

Pilots who do so can risk being grounded, at least temporarily, while the Federal Aviation Administration sorts out whether they’re fit to fly. Pilots can also be grounded after relatives or coworkers report concerns.

Mr. Emerson had his most recent exam in September, according to FAA records.

The administration started allowing some pilots on medication for mild to moderate depression to continue flying on a case-by-case basis in 2010, and some airlines have introduced confidential programs to help struggling employees. The Air Line Pilots Association also offers a round-the-clock, peer-to-peer stress hotline staffed by volunteer pilots.

“The FAA encourages pilots to seek help if they have a mental-health condition since most, if treated, do not disqualify a pilot from flying,” the agency said in an emailed statement.

Some conditions, including bipolar disorder and psychosis, are disqualifying.

Pilots who are struggling should speak up, because even if they’re temporarily grounded, it’s better than ruining their career and possibly costing lives with a more disastrous episode down the road, said Dr. Warren Silberman, a former Federal Aviation Administration aeromedical certification chief.

Investigators concluded that is what happened on board a Germanwings plane in 2015 when the copilot deliberately crashed the aircraft in the French Alps, killing 150 people.

What about drug or alcohol use?

The U.S. Department of Transportation has a mandatory drug testing program for on-duty pilots or flight attendants, which can include random testing before or after a flight, or testing based on reasonable suspicion. The tests look for opioids, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, and some other drugs – but not psychedelics.

The effects of psychedelic mushrooms typically last about six hours. Usually they are no longer detectable in urine 24 hours after ingestion.

Alaska Airlines, which owns Horizon Air, said it has a zero-tolerance policy and that all gate agents and flight attendants are trained to identify signs of impairment.

The flight crew on the Horizon flight and the police who interviewed Mr. Emerson afterward said he did not appear to be impaired.

There is no specific guidance regarding pilot behavior off-duty, but Mr. Pruchnicki cautioned that drugs can show up in a random test well after the effects have worn off.

“Is that something you want to do on your days off?” he said. “And how does that fit into your mindset as a professional pilot?”

Many pilots get rides in cockpit jump seats every day as a way to shuttle between locations after making flights. Mr. Pruchnicki said he didn’t think they needed to be subject to random testing because they’re off-duty and not making operational decisions about the flights. Pilots can bar them from the cockpit if they present issues.

“I don’t believe that necessarily one extremely rare event means that we need to completely overhaul the entire system,” Mr. Pruchnicki said.

What are the effects of psychedelic mushrooms? 

While psilocybin remains illegal in most of the United States, it has been gaining greater acceptance in the country as a potential therapy. The Food and Drug Administration published draft guidance this summer for researchers designing clinical trials for psychedelic drugs to treat depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance-use disorders, and other conditions.

Such hallucinogenic substances have been used by the Indigenous peoples of the Americas to induce altered states of consciousness and healing since pre-Columbian times. Users have described varied experiences, from vivid geometric shapes, patterns, and colors to a sense of oneness with the universe.

Oregon became the first state to legalize psilocybin in 2020 after voters approved a measure that allowed for the manufacture and controlled, therapeutic use of psilocybin for people 21 years of age or older.

It’s unclear what prompted the episode on Horizon Air – police said Mr. Emerson described having been in a dream-like state.

Brian Pilecki, a clinical psychologist in Portland who is involved in research on psychedelic therapeutics, said that for people diagnosed with psychosis or bipolar disorder, “taking a psychedelic like psilocybin can potentially trigger a psychotic episode.”

What’s next in the case? 

Mr. Emerson pleaded not guilty in state court on Oct. 24 to 83 charges of attempted murder and one of endangering an aircraft.

He remains in custody and is scheduled to make his first appearance on Oct. 26 on a federal charge of interfering with a flight crew, which can carry up to 20 years in prison.

This story was reported by The Associated Press.

>>> Read full article>>>
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source : The Christian Science Monitor – https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2023/1026/Averted-flight-disaster-puts-spotlight-on-pilot-mental-health?icid=rss

Tags: AvertedFlightscience
Previous Post

Schools get serious about a different kind of bully: Cybercriminals

Next Post

Lockdown, manhunt as Maine grapples with mass shooting

Using nature to help tackle mental health issues – Inside Ecology

Using nature to help tackle mental health issues – Inside Ecology

October 15, 2025
Get Inspired at the Bay Area Science Festival on Saturday, October 25 – marinmommies.com

Get Inspired at the Bay Area Science Festival on Saturday, October 25 – marinmommies.com

October 15, 2025
Scientists Found a Chemical That Could Help Regrow Your Hair. It Might Be In Your Pantry. – Popular Mechanics

This Common Pantry Ingredient Could Be the Key to Regrowing Your Hair

October 15, 2025
Face your fears in 4k: October State Theatre film lineup – The Daily Collegian

Conquer Your Fears in Stunning 4K: October Film Lineup at the State Theatre

October 15, 2025
Erie Canal’s 200th anniversary: How a technological marvel for trade changed the environment forever – The Conversation

Erie Canal’s 200th Anniversary: How a Trade Marvel Transformed the Environment Forever

October 15, 2025
Sporting KC to participate in 2026 Coachella Valley Invitational – Sporting Kansas City

Sporting KC Prepares for an Exciting Run at the 2026 Coachella Valley Invitational

October 15, 2025
Madagascar: Gen Z protesters united by an anime pirate flag are challenging governments around the world – NBC News

Madagascar: Gen Z protesters united by an anime pirate flag are challenging governments around the world – NBC News

October 15, 2025
New report reveals concerning blind spot posing risk to global economy: ‘Not a distant threat’ – Yahoo Finance

New report reveals concerning blind spot posing risk to global economy: ‘Not a distant threat’ – Yahoo Finance

October 15, 2025
Arts/Entertainment: ‘Wait Until Dark’ brings spooky season center stage – Times Herald Online

Wait Until Dark’ Delivers Chilling Thrills Perfect for the Spooky Season

October 15, 2025
Potential crisis looms with loss of environmental health research – Johns Hopkins University

Urgent Alert: Environmental Health Research at a Crossroads

October 15, 2025

Categories

Archives

October 2025
M T W T F S S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Sep    
Earth-News.info

The Earth News is an independent English-language daily published Website from all around the World News

Browse by Category

  • Business (20,132)
  • Ecology (869)
  • Economy (890)
  • Entertainment (21,762)
  • General (17,615)
  • Health (9,932)
  • Lifestyle (903)
  • News (22,149)
  • People (891)
  • Politics (900)
  • Science (16,101)
  • Sports (21,390)
  • Technology (15,870)
  • World (873)

Recent News

Using nature to help tackle mental health issues – Inside Ecology

Using nature to help tackle mental health issues – Inside Ecology

October 15, 2025
Get Inspired at the Bay Area Science Festival on Saturday, October 25 – marinmommies.com

Get Inspired at the Bay Area Science Festival on Saturday, October 25 – marinmommies.com

October 15, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

No Result
View All Result

© 2023 earth-news.info

Go to mobile version