Alaska Airlines passenger Tracy Barkhimer banned from airline for attack on crew members

61-Year-Old Woman Arrested for Attacking Alaska Airlines Crew Member

A 61-year-old woman from White Salmon, Washington, was taken into custody on Tuesday after allegedly assaulting at least one Alaska Airlines crew member during a flight from Portland, Oregon, to Dallas. The incident led to an emergency landing at Boise Airport in Idaho.

Tracy Barkhimer is facing two counts of misdemeanor battery, as confirmed by the Boise Police Department. The altercation occurred when Barkhimer displayed erratic behavior and reportedly struck two airline employees who were trying to calm her down.

As a result of the situation, Barkhimer was restrained, and the flight had to be diverted to Boise Airport for the safety of everyone onboard.

Upon landing, airport police were informed of the emergency and met with the affected crew members who provided affidavits for Barkhimer’s arrest. Following an investigation, she was peacefully removed from the plane, taken into custody, and booked into the Ada County Jail.

After a thorough medical evaluation, the Alaska Airlines crew was cleared to continue their journey, resulting in a 90-minute delay before the flight resumed.

While Alaska Airlines confirmed that only one flight attendant was assaulted during the incident, police reports indicate that there were two victims involved. As a consequence of her actions, Barkhimer has been permanently banned from flying with the airline in the future.

Alaska Airlines released a statement emphasizing the importance of safety and condemning any form of violence towards their employees. The airline expressed gratitude towards their crew for handling the situation professionally and apologized for any inconvenience caused to passengers.