A woman aged 61 reportedly assaulted a flight attendant, leading to an emergency landing of the aircraft. Tracy Barkhimer, a consulting firm executive, was onboard Alaska Airlines Flight 1057 from Portland, Oregon, to Dallas, Texas, when the incident occurred. Law enforcement stated that the passenger exhibited erratic behavior and allegedly hit two crew members who were attempting to pacify her.
After being restrained, the woman was taken off the plane as it diverted to Boise Airport in Ada County, Idaho. Police were notified of the emergency landing just before 1:30 am on Tuesday, and upon arrival, they received affidavits signed by the two crew members, requesting a citizen’s arrest.
Authorities confirmed that Barkhimer was removed from the aircraft without issues, arrested, and booked into the Ada County Jail, facing charges of battery. Despite the delay caused by the incident, Alaska Airlines confirmed that the crew was medically cleared to continue the flight to its destination after a 90-minute pause.
Alaska Airlines emphasized its zero-tolerance policy towards violence against its staff, expressing gratitude for the crew’s professionalism and apologizing for any inconvenience caused. Barkhimer, a retired Navy captain and helicopter pilot, is reportedly barred from future flights with the airline. She currently serves as the president of TABAS Consulting, LLC, catering to 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 compelled to divert to the UK due to a mid-air emergency. About 30 minutes into its journey from Brussels to Washington, the Boeing C-32A aircraft faced a depressurization issue off the southwest coast of Ireland, leading to a descent to 10,000 feet and a return eastward. Aviation sources tracked the situation, highlighting the plane’s emergency procedures.