CNN —An off-duty pilot who was riding in the cockpit of an Alaska Airlines flight en route to San Francisco on Sunday is facing dozens of attempted murder charges after he tried to shut down the plane’s engines mid-flight, authorities say. “The fire suppression system consists of a T-handle for each engine; when pulled, a valve in the wing closes to shut off fuel to the engine,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement to CNN. The flight crew detained the suspect and the plane was diverted to Portland International Airport, the Port of Portland said in a statement. After Alaska Airlines acquired Virgin America in 2016, Emerson became a first officer with Alaska and worked about three more years to become a pilot for the airline, according to the airline statement. “Throughout his career, Emerson completed his mandated FAA medical certifications in accordance with regulatory requirements, and at no point were his certifications denied, suspended or revoked,” Alaska Airlines said in a statement.

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Persons: Joseph D, Emerson, CNN’s Josh Campbell, Joseph Emerson, “, Mike Karn, LiveATC.net, ”, Aubrey Gavello, ” Gavello, Laura Coates, Alex Wood, Wood, ” Wood, Gavello, “ I’m, Ed Yee, ” Yee Organizations: CNN, Alaska Airlines, Sunday, Port, Portland police, Horizon, Airlines, Embraer, American Airlines, Portland International Airport, FBI, Detention, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, Hamas, Passengers, Alaska, Alaskan Airlines, Alaska Air Group, Virgin America, Airbus, Boeing, Canadair Regional Jet, Havilland Locations: San Francisco, Portland , Oregon, Portland, Oregon, Everett , Washington, Sunday, Port, Multnomah, Israel, Alaska