Selma Blair, the actress, was taken into custody following allegations of injuring two flight attendants during a flight from Los Angeles to New York. She also faced charges on Monday for assaulting a police officer who was transporting her to a hospital, as well as a nurse upon her arrival.
Blair, aged 54, was arrested around 11 p.m. ET on Sunday while the Delta Air Lines aircraft was at the gate at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, according to a statement from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Both Blair and one of the flight attendants were sent to a hospital for assessment, as noted by the port authority.
Documents from the police indicated that while securing Blair to a stretcher for transport to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, the actress managed to free a leg from the straps and kicked the officer repeatedly in the face, neck, and chest, resulting in significant pain and noticeable swelling. Subsequently, a nurse who was assisting Blair reported being kicked in the chest, which caused her substantial discomfort.
On Monday evening, Blair was arraigned on two counts of second-degree assault in a Queens courtroom. She appeared emotional, shedding tears while standing in handcuffs and dressed in jeans and a white hoodie.
Blair was taken into custody late Sunday night after her plane landed at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, shown on June 24. (Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
One of her lawyers, Shawn Barnes, informed the judge that her actions were not deliberate. He explained that the actress, who has multiple sclerosis, had missed several doses of “a strong medication that manages severe neurological symptoms,” as reported by the New York Daily News and New York Post.
Barnes mentioned that Blair boarded the flight in Los Angeles after a demanding work schedule and sustained a head injury during the journey. He attributed her actions to these factors, in addition to the effects of altitude, which led to “a state of severe confusion and disorientation.”
The judge set her bail at $20,000 in cash or a $60,000 bond and scheduled the next hearing for January. Following this, Blair exited the courtroom alongside her legal team.
Specific details regarding the incident on the aircraft were not immediately provided by the airline, law enforcement, or the FBI, which is conducting an investigation. However, Delta stated that it maintains a “zero tolerance” policy for disruptive or illegal behavior, emphasizing that the safety of its customers and crew is paramount.
In communications with air traffic control, the Delta pilot requested that medical assistance be ready at the gate to address bite marks and a bloody nose but indicated that ambulances were not required.
The pilot mentioned, based on audio shared on the ATC app, “It appears the disruptive passenger may have also hit her head on the bulkhead or something similar. Therefore, we will need to have her checked out and involve law enforcement.”
Previous in-flight incident
This is not the first incident involving Blair — known for significant roles in films like 1999’s Cruel Intentions, 2001’s Legally Blonde, and 2004’s Hellboy — while on an airplane.
In 2016, Blair issued an apology for remarks made during a flight from Cancun to Los Angeles, admitting that she had combined alcohol with medication, which led to her blacking out.
In recent years, Blair, who received a multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2018, has been a prominent advocate for disability rights. In 2023, she joined former President Joe Biden at the White House to commemorate the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
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