A woman aged 61 is accused of assaulting a flight attendant, leading to an emergency landing of a plane. Tracy Barkhimer, the head of a consulting firm, was on Alaska Airlines Flight 1057 from Portland, Oregon, to Dallas, Texas when the incident occurred. Authorities stated that the passenger was displaying erratic behavior and allegedly hit two crew members who were trying to calm her down.
Following the disturbance, the woman was restrained, and the aircraft was redirected to Boise Airport in Ada County, Idaho. Police were alerted about the emergency landing just before 1:30 am on Tuesday and met with two victims who requested and signed affidavits for the citizen’s arrest.
Officials confirmed that Barkhimer was removed from the plane without any issues, taken into custody, and booked into the Ada County Jail, where she faces battery charges. Alaska Airlines mentioned that their crew was deemed fit to continue the flight after a medical evaluation, resulting in a 90-minute delay before resuming the journey to its destination.
The airline emphasized its commitment to safety and zero tolerance for violence against its staff, expressing gratitude for the crew’s professionalism and apologizing for any disruptions caused. It was noted that although police records indicated two victims, only one flight attendant was assaulted according to Alaska Airlines.
Barkhimer, a retired Navy captain and helicopter pilot with over two decades of active duty, has reportedly been prohibited from flying with Alaska Airlines in the future. Currently serving as the president of TABAS Consulting, LLC, she offers consulting services for businesses interested in opportunities with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).
In a separate incident, a US Air Force plane carrying Secretary of War Pete Hegseth was forced to divert to the UK due to a mid-air emergency. Approximately 30 minutes into the flight from Brussels to Washington, the Boeing C-32A signaled a general emergency with a “7700 squawk code” on its transponder, indicating a depressurization issue off the southwest coast of Ireland. The aircraft descended to 10,000 feet and redirected east to address the situation.