It was a big day for airline stock Alaska Air (NYSE:ALK) as a potential disaster was averted in the cockpit. Quick thinking and bold action saved the day, and sent Alaska Air shares up over 3.5% in Monday afternoon’s trading.
Late Sunday, an Alaska Airlines flight from Seattle to San Francisco had a somewhat unusual passenger, as an off-duty pilot—though not an Alaska Airlines pilot at last report—occupied a “jump seat” therein. Then, something far more unusual, and potentially lethal, followed as the off-duty pilot attempted to take control of the aircraft and shut down its engines, while the aircraft was in the air.
The aircraft’s actual pilot and his first officer took down the rogue pilot and subdued him, apparently securing him somewhere “in the back.” The flight was diverted to Portland and law enforcement was waiting on the ground.
The off-duty pilot in question, Joseph Emerson, was subsequently charged with 83 counts of attempted murder, 83 counts of reckless endangerment, and because that wasn’t enough, one count of endangering an aircraft. Meanwhile, the FBI noted that there was no “continuing threat” to the “traveling public” associated herein.
Is Alaska Air a Good Stock to Buy?
Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Strong Buy consensus rating on ALK stock based on 11 Buys assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. Furthermore, the average ALK price target of $51.55 per share implies 55.93% upside potential.
