A Montana woman is headed to prison after lunging at flight controls during landing, nearly turning a small plane’s arrival into disaster.
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GREAT FALLS, MT
– A Montana woman will spend nearly 20 months in federal prison after a dangerous incident on a small commercial flight led to her sentencing this week. Tracy Lynn Eagleman, also known as Tracy Badmoccasin, was sentenced to 19 months and 24 days in prison, followed by three years of supervised release, after she pleaded guilty to interfering with an aircraft in flight, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana announced on Thursday.
Shocking Mid-Landing Interference
The events unfolded on March 21, 2023, aboard Cape Air flight 1793, a route from Billings to Havre. According to court documents, Eagleman disrupted the flight as the plane prepared to land, leaving her seat and shouting about the landing.
The commotion initially led the crew to calm Eagleman and return her to her seat, but as the plane touched down, the situation took a dangerous turn.
Flight Crew’s Quick Actions Prevent Catastrophe
Just as the wheels hit the runway, Eagleman “lunged forward,” striking the flight controls and pushing the throttle for one engine. This caused the aircraft to speed up and veer to one side while moving at approximately 80 mph. Although the plane began to turn rapidly on the runway, the captain and first officer regained control, steering the aircraft safely to the terminal. The incident left passengers shaken, with several yelling in fear over the disruption.
One passenger managed to record part of the incident, though prosecutors noted the video did not capture the exact moment Eagleman grabbed the controls. Still, the footage conveyed the tension in the cabin, with frightened passengers shouting and expressing fears for their lives.
According to statements from the flight crew during the investigation, the plane’s sudden turn, or “yawing,” at that speed could have led to a rollover accident—an outcome that would have endangered everyone on board.
Sentencing Highlights Seriousness of In-Flight Interference
This week’s sentencing concluded the case, marking Eagleman’s guilty plea to charges of in-flight interference in August. The court’s sentence of nearly 20 months in federal prison reflects the seriousness of interfering with flight operations and risking the safety of passengers and crew.
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