PLEASANT HILL, CALIFORNIA: Sarah Stretch, wife of rogue aviator Joseph Emerson who allegedly attempted to crash a flight after taking magic mushrooms expressed her support to him.
She said her husband who was off-duty during the incident "never would have knowingly" tried hurting anyone on the plane, reports New York Post.
Sarah Stretch says 'this is not the man' she married
During Emerson's appearance in federal court in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, October 26, Stretch expressed her disbelief and described the kind of person her husband was.
"This is not my Joe, this is not any Joe that anybody knows," Stretch told reporters gathered outside the court.
"That is not the man that I married. I don’t know how to explain it but it just wasn’t him," she said.
Stretch became emotional when she said Emerson was struggling with depression but he "never would have knowingly done any of that."
"That’s not the man that all of these people in this world are coming together to support him, [to] love him," she added.
The accused crazed pilot was also accompanied by his parents and his father-in-law at the court.
What are the charges against Joseph Emerson?
At the court appearance on Thursday, October 26, Emerson waived his right to a preliminary hearing and pleaded not guilty.
The off-duty pilot faces a charge for interfering with the Alaska Airlines crew members and attendants.
He also faces multiple state charges in Oregon, including one count of endangering an aircraft, 83 counts of reckless endangerment, and 83 felony counts of attempted murder.
Emerson's next court appearance is scheduled for November 22. With the interference charge, the US Magistrate Judge Youlee Yim You ordered him to be held as a danger and risk of flight.
Following the hearing, Emerson's lawyer, Ethan Levi said, "This is a complete shock to everyone
He added that Emerson wanted to express his gratitude to the pilots for their "timely and heroic actions" and also the flight attendants for their kindness.
“Mr Emerson did not intend to harm himself or any other person. He was not suicidal or homicidal," said Levi.
By activating the fire suppression system, Emerson allegedly attempted to cut the fuel to the flight's engines on Sunday, October 22.
He told authorities that he had taken magic mushrooms before the flight to San Francisco from Everett, Washington.
Emerson is currently held without bail at the Multnomah County Detention Center.
