Part 3/9:
As the flight reached cruising altitude, the pilots engaged in light banter about aviation, while Joe's internal struggles intensified. About ten minutes into the cruise, without warning, Joe announced, "I’m not okay," before lunging for the fire extinguisher handles in the cockpit. This shocking move—rooted not in aggression but seemingly driven by an acute mental health crisis—posed an immediate threat to the aircraft and its occupants.