An unexpected security threat forced a Horizon Air flight to divert its course from Seattle to San Francisco, landing instead in Portland, Oregon.
The threat emerged from an individual who allegedly attempted to shut off the plane's engines mid-flight. The individual, reportedly an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot, was riding in the cockpit, according to the Daily Mail.
The pilot of Horizon Air flight 2059 alerted Portland air traffic control to the situation, stating, Ill just give you a heads-up. Weve got the guy that tried to shut the engines down out of the cockpit. It doesnt seem like hes causing any issue at the back. I think hes subdued. The pilot also requested law enforcement presence upon landing.
The circumstances surrounding how the off-duty pilot was subdued remain unclear, as does any potential involvement from the approximately 80 passengers on board, some of whom were infants. The suspect was positioned behind the two operating pilots within the flight deck, a location not uncommon for airline employees catching a ride back to their home base after a shift, as noted by The Seattle Times.
Alaska Air Group, the parent company of both Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air, confirmed the incident in a statement released on Monday. The company acknowledged a "credible security threat related to an authorized occupant in the flight deck jump seat." They added, The crew secured the aircraft without incident. All passengers on board were able to travel on a later flight.
The company expressed gratitude towards the Horizon flight crew for their professional handling of the situation and appreciated the calm and patience exhibited by the passengers during the event.
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