Selma Blair’s flight incident leads to assault charges: What happened at JFK airport?

Highlights

• Selma Blair faces two state assault charges after allegedly kicking a law enforcement officer and a nurse following a disturbance aboard a flight to New York.
• Her attorney said the actress had hit her head on the plane, missed several doses of medication and was experiencing a medical emergency.
• Blair pleaded not guilty and was released on $20,000 bail. She is due back in court on January 19.

Actress Selma Blair is facing assault charges after an incident aboard a flight from Los Angeles to New York allegedly left two flight attendants injured and led to her arrest at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

The 54-year-old was taken into custody late Sunday after Port Authority Police Department officers responded to a report of a disruptive passenger aboard Delta Air Lines Flight 938. She was later taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Blair appeared in Queens Criminal Court on Monday, where she pleaded not guilty to two state assault charges. Her attorney, Shawn Barnes, argued that the incident followed exhaustion and a medical emergency rather than an intentional act of violence.

What allegedly happened aboard the flight?

According to a law enforcement official cited by CNN, Blair allegedly bit one flight attendant during the flight, while another sustained cuts. The Port Authority Police Department said two flight attendants reported injuries, with one taken to a hospital for further evaluation.

Audio from air traffic control, recorded by ATC.com, indicated that medical personnel were initially requested to meet the aircraft because two crew members needed care. A later transmission referred to a bloody nose and bite marks, while another reported that the passenger may have hit her head against the aircraft's interior.

The allegations continued after the plane reached JFK. According to the criminal complaint, Blair kicked a Port Authority officer in the head and chest while being secured to a stretcher before being taken to an ambulance. Prosecutors said the officer later received hospital treatment for facial swelling and arm pain.

Hours later, Blair allegedly kicked a nurse in the chest while being taken for additional treatment, according to the complaint. A judge subsequently issued an order of protection for the nurse.

Delta said it has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior and that the safety of its passengers and crew is a priority. The airline confirmed that law enforcement met the aircraft after it arrived.

What charges does Selma Blair face?

Blair faces two state assault charges over the alleged attacks on the Port Authority officer and the nurse. According to the report, the FBI has also issued a summons relating to an alleged assault aboard the aircraft. The federal investigation remains ongoing.

Blair's attorney disputed the suggestion that the alleged assaults were intentional. Barnes told the court that Blair had been working extensive hours on set before boarding the flight, had fallen and hit her head on the plane, and had missed several doses of her medication.

Barnes described the incident as a medical crisis and said the defense did not believe the alleged assault was intentional. Blair spent seven to eight hours at the hospital, according to her attorney.

The actress was released on $20,000 bail after her court appearance. A prosecutor said she could face two to seven years in prison if convicted on the state charges. Blair is scheduled to return to court on January 19.

Selma Blair has previously spoken about her health

Blair was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2018 and has spoken publicly about living with the condition. MS is a disease that affects the central nervous system. Her attorney also told the court that she had been diagnosed with parkinsonism, a group of movement-related symptoms that can include tremors and stiffness.

The latest incident is not the first time Blair has faced scrutiny over her behavior on a commercial flight. In 2016, she was removed from a flight from Cancun to Los Angeles on a stretcher and hospitalized. In a statement to Vanity Fair at the time, she described the incident as a mistake and said combining alcohol with her medication had caused her to black out.

Blair has also discussed the importance of publicly sharing her experience with MS. Speaking to CNBC earlier this year, she said the response to her diagnosis made her recognize the value of visibility for people seeking understanding of their own neurological or chronic illnesses.

Blair is best known for roles in Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde, The Sweetest Thing and the Hellboy films. The allegations in the latest case have not been proven in court, and she has pleaded not guilty.