A passenger allegedly assaulted two flight attendants mid-flight aboard an Alaska Airlines (AS) service from Portland International Airport (PDX), Portland, Oregon, bound for Dallas Love Field (DAL), Texas. This compelled an emergency landing in Boise, Idaho, early Tuesday morning.
Authorities say the passenger exhibited erratic behavior and physically struck crew members, prompting the pilots to divert the aircraft to Boise Airport (BOI) to ensure safety. On landing, law enforcement detained 61-year-old Tracy Barkhimer of White Salmon, Washington. She:
- was booked into the Ada County Jail
- posted a $600 cash bond
- has a court date set for November
- faces two misdemeanor battery counts
- is permanently banned from flying with Alaska Airlines
| Alaska Airline | Data / Fact |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Seattle, Washington |
| Founded | 1932 (as McGee Airways) |
| Fleet size (approx.) | ~330 aircraft (across types) |
| Major hubs | Seattle–Tacoma, Anchorage, Portland, Los Angeles |
| Distinctions |
|
Alaska Airlines Flight AS 1057: Incident Timeline and Response
Flight AS 1057 departed PDX late Monday night and was en route to DAL when, approximately 30 minutes into the flight, troubles began. The airline later described the event as a “security incident” in which a passenger assaulted two attendants.
Pilots elected to divert to BOI, and according to Mail Online the flight landed at the airport at 1:43 am. Police, who were notified of the incident just before 1:30 (as per The Sun), found the individual restrained onboard by crew. The same publication also said that “two victims requested and signed affidavits for a citizen’s arrest at the scene“, and following a thorough onboard investigation, the perpetrator was removed taken into custody.
At the gate, emergency medical personnel assessed the crew members, who were cleared to continue working. The aircraft then departed for Dallas after a delay of roughly 90 minutes.
According to the Boise Police Department’s statement quoted in CBS News, Barkhimer was:
“showing erratic behavior and struck two airline employees who were attempting to calm her down…She was restrained until the flight landed. The employees filed citizen’s arrests, and Barkhimer was removed from the plane without incident. She was taken into custody and booked into the Ada County Jail.”
Who is Tracy Brkhimer, the suspect of Alaska Airlines Flight AS 1057
Tracy Barkhimer, the person who assaulted the crew members of Alaska Airlines Flight AS 1057, is a mother of three children. Her home is worth $1.1million, and it is located in the town of White Salmon, on the Columbia River Gorge near the Washington-Oregon border.
Barkhimer is a retired U.S. Navy Captain and helicopter pilot who dedicated more than 20 years to active military service. According to her company’s website, she concluded her final Navy assignment in 2014. She now serves as the president of TABAS Consulting, LLC — a firm that assists businesses in pursuing contracts with the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR).
According to her LinkedIn, she is also:
- An emergency substitute teacher for the White Salmon Valley School District
- A lifeguard with the Hood River Valley Parks and Recreation service in Oregon
She founded TABAS Consulting in 2019 after spending three years at Boeing, where she acted as the company’s liaison to NAVAIR. In that capacity, she oversaw programs related to unmanned aviation, strike weapons, and vertical lift systems. According to Mail Online, she has also fought with breast cancer on two separate occassions, and this was exemplified in a Facebook post where she was raising money for the Susan G Komen foundation (quoted in Daily Mail):
‘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…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….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.’
Alaska Airlines Flight AS 1057 Details and History
The incident of Alaska Airlines Flight AS 1057 involved a Boeing 737-series MAX-9 aircraft. According to the carrier, the aircraft type is “an updated version of the world’s most-flown aircraft, the Boeing 737-9 MAX features new fuel-efficient engines, which allow us to fly further and quieter––all while reducing carbon emissions“.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Crew | 2 Pilots, 4 Flight Attendants |
| First Class | 16 seats |
| Premium Class | 24 seats |
| Coach | 138 seats |
| Range | 3,250 nautical miles |
| Length | 138 ft, 2 in (42.1 m) |
| Typical Cruise Speed | 530 mph (853 km/h) |
| Wingspan (with winglets) | 117 ft, 10 in (35.9 m) |
| Maximum Cruising Altitude | 41,000 ft (12,497 m) |
Here’s a look at how Alaska configures its Boeing 737 MAX-9, the aircraft that was involved in Alaska Airlines Flight AS 1057:
| Category | First Class | Main Cabin |
|---|---|---|
| Seat Type & Model | Recaro CL4710 | Recaro BL3530 (slimline) |
| Configuration / Layout | 16 seats | 162 seats |
| Seat Dimensions & Pitch | Width: 21.3″ / Pitch: 41″ / Recline: 5″ | Width: 17″ / Variable pitch by row (see below) |
| Features | Adjustable headrest, memory foam padding, footrest, cup holder, tablet holder | Adjustable headrest, tablet holder |
| Row Location | Seat Pitch |
|---|---|
| Rows 6–9 (Premium) | 34.5″ |
| Rows 10–15 | 31″ |
| Over-wing exit rows 16–17 | 37.5″ |
| Rows 18–32 (Port side ABC) | 32″ |
| Rows 18–34 (Starboard side DEF) | 30.5″ |
Source: Aerolopa
According to Alaska Airlines, the 737 MAX-9 also features:
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Boeing’s award-winning Sky Interior, which gives the cabin a spacious feeling along with ambient mood lighting.
-
redesigned First Class seats with footrests, new cup holders in First and Premium Class
-
ergonomically-designed tablet holders, and a shelf designed to hold most tablets and smartphones in every seat.
Prior similar cases to Alaska Airlines AS 1057
This incident aligns with a troubling pattern of in-flight assaults and unrest. The following table presents comparative details of some previous cases:
| Year | Airline / Flight | Nature of Incident | Legal Outcome / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Alaska, Flight 2221
[Flight 2221, operated by Horizon Air, was set to depart from Oakland, Calif., for Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, Feb. 1] |
|
Passenger banned from Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air |
| 2023 | Alaska / Horizon, Flight 2059 | Off-duty pilot who was deadheading attempted to disable engines mid-flight |
|
| 2024 | Alaska, Flight 1282 | Door plug separated, decompression event | Repaired, no fatalities |
All in All
The diversion of Alaska Airlines Flight 1057 to Boise following a passenger’s alleged assault on flight attendants is a curious case. the woman who has been charged is a person of excellent skills, a helicopter pilot, someone who battled cancer, and an active member of the society. It reminds me of that old adage “The line diving good and bad cuts through the heart of every human being“.