An incident involving a passenger forced an Alaska Airlines flight to make an unexpected landing when a woman allegedly assaulted two crew members. This unsettling event unfolded when Tracy Barkhimer, 61, reportedly exhibited erratic behavior during the journey, compelling the pilot to divert the plane to Boise Airport in Idaho.
Barkhimer, who is the president of a defense acquisition consulting service, was aboard Flight 1057, which had departed from Portland shortly after midnight and was en route to Dallas. As the flight progressed, Barkhimer allegedly attacked two crew members who were attempting to pacify her, according to Boise police.
The situation escalated to the point where Barkhimer, a mother of three from Washington state, had to be restrained by the crew. In response to the disturbance, the pilot made the crucial decision to divert the flight, touching down in Boise at 1:43 a.m. local time, as confirmed by flight tracking data.
Upon landing, law enforcement officers were on hand to meet the flight. The crew members involved signed affidavits for a citizen’s arrest, leading to Barkhimer’s arrest on two counts of misdemeanor battery. She was subsequently removed from the aircraft without further incident and taken into custody at the Ada County Jail.
The mother-of-three was restrained and the pilot diverted the plane to Boise, landing at 1.43am local time, flight tracking data showed.
Police met with the two victims who requested and signed affidavits for a citizen’s arrest. She was then removed from the plane without incident and booked into the Ada County Jail.
Flight 1057 resumed its journey to Texas 90 minutes later after the crew underwent a medical evaluation and were cleared to fly, Alaska Airlines told KTVB.
Barkhimer is reportedly banned from flying with the airline in the future.
Tracy Barkhimer, the president of a defense acquisition strategy consulting company, forced an Alaska Airlines pilot to make an emergency landing in Idaho on Tuesday after she allegedly attacked two crew members
Barkhimer, 61, (pictured in 1988) is a retired Navy Captain and helicopter pilot who served active duty for more than two decades. She completed her final tour with the Navy in 2014
Barkhimer lives in a $1.1million home in the small picturesque town of White Salmon, located on the Columbia River Gorge near the Washington-Oregon border.
She is a retired Navy Captain and helicopter pilot who served on active duty for more than two decades.
Barkhimer completed her final tour with the Navy in 2014, according to the biography on her company’s website.
She currently serves as an executive at TABAS Consulting, LLC, a consulting service for businesses seeking opportunities with Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).
Barkhimer, the president and founder of TABASCo, established the company in 2019 after she spent three years working as Boeing’s representative to NAVAIR.
In that role she was responsible for managing the unmanned aviation and strike weapons and vertical lift programs, the biography states.
In addition to having 20 years experience as a defense acquisition professional, Barkhimer has a background in both aviation and engineering.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the State University of New York Maritime College and her master of science in aviation systems from the University of Tennessee Space Institute.
Barkhimer was arrested early Tuesday morning on two counts of misdemeanor battery at Boise Airport in Idaho. Police say she demonstrated ‘erratic behavior’ during the flight and allegedly struck two crew members who were ‘attempting to calm her down’
Alaska Airlines Flight 1057 left Portland just after midnight Tuesday and was headed to Dallas. The pilot diverted to Boise Airport, landing at 1.43am local time, flight tracking data showed
Barkhimer, on both her LinkedIn and company website, touts how TABASCo is a ‘service-disabled woman-owned company.’
She is also open about her two-time battle with breast cancer.
Just last month, Barkhimer took to Facebook to raise money for the Susan G. Komen foundation. She is scheduled to participate in her third walk with the organization.
‘Please support me as I commit to another incredible challenge. The Susan G. Komen 3-Day is a 60-mile walk over the course of three days,’ her post read.
‘It will be hard, but it’s not as hard as breast cancer. It’s not as hard as surgery. Not as hard as radiation or even chemo. It’s not as hard as getting bad news at your latest scan. It’s not as hard as saying goodbye.’
She added: ‘Breast cancer does not discriminate. There are still too many of us getting breast cancer. And that’s why I know I have to do this… I won’t soon give up.’
The veteran and cancer survivor also appears to be an active and dedicated member of her community.
She is a lifeguard with the Hood River Valley Parks & Recreation service in Oregon and serves as an emergency substitute teacher for the White Salmon Valley School District, according to her LinkedIn.
Barkhimer lives in a $1.1million home in the small picturesque town of White Salmon, located on the Columbia River Gorge near the Washington-Oregon border. White Salmon (pictured) recorded a population of 2,485 people in the 2020 census
Last year, she penned on open letter to parents in the school district criticizing their ‘unacceptable’ behavior at grade school sporting events.
She alleged that there was an ongoing problem in which parents, friends, family members and coaches were screaming at student-athletes and volunteer referees and umpires.
‘Absolutely unacceptable to use foul language or name calling under any circumstances at a school or community game,’ Barkhimer wrote in the letter, which she also shared on social media.
‘OUR children watch this behavior. OUR children think it’s ok to act this way if mom or dad do it.’
Daily Mail has approached Boise police and American Airlines for comment.
