Alaska Airlines Passenger Arrested After Assault Forces Emergency Landing in Boise

A 61-year-old woman was arrested after allegedly assaulting Alaska Airlines crew members mid-flight, forcing an emergency landing at Boise Airport in Idaho early Tuesday Oct 14, in the morning. The incident occurred on a flight traveling from Portland, Oregon, to Dallas, Texas, and led to a 90-minute delay before the aircraft was cleared to continue its journey.

According to the Boise Police Department, the passenger, identified as Tracy Barkhimer of White Salmon, Washington, began exhibiting erratic behavior shortly after takeoff. She allegedly struck two flight attendants who attempted to de-escalate the situation. Barkhimer was restrained by the crew as the pilots diverted the aircraft to Boise for safety reasons.

Police officers met the plane upon landing around 1:30 a.m. and took Barkhimer into custody without incident. She has been charged with two counts of misdemeanor battery and booked into the Ada County Jail. The victims, both Alaska Airlines crew members, signed affidavits for a citizen’s arrest following the assault.

After a medical evaluation confirmed the crew was fit to continue working, Alaska Airlines cleared the aircraft to resume its flight to Dallas. In a statement, the airline confirmed that at least one flight attendant was assaulted and emphasized that such behavior would not be tolerated.

“At Alaska Airlines, safety is our number one priority, and we do not tolerate violence of any kind against our employees,” a company spokesperson said. “We are grateful to our crew for their professionalism, and we apologize to our guests for any concern or inconvenience this situation caused.”

As a result of the incident, Alaska Airlines has permanently banned Barkhimer from flying on any of its future flights. Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing, and additional federal charges could follow under U.S. aviation laws that protect crew and passenger safety.

The episode is the latest in a series of disruptive passenger incidents that have drawn attention to airline safety and in-flight security measures. Airlines continue to reinforce training for cabin crews and coordinate closely with law enforcement to ensure swift responses to any threats onboard.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, foxnews.com