Actor Selma Blair was taken into custody after allegedly causing harm to two flight attendants on a flight from Los Angeles to New York. Additionally, she faced charges of assaulting a police officer and a nurse during her transport and hospital stay. Authorities apprehended Blair, 54, around 11 p.m. ET upon the plane’s arrival at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport, as confirmed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Following the incident, Blair and one of the flight attendants were transported to a hospital for assessment, according to the port authority. Charging documents revealed that while a police officer was securing Blair to a stretcher en route to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, she forcefully kicked the officer, causing significant pain and swelling to the face, neck, and chest. Subsequently, when a nurse was moving Blair, she kicked the nurse in the chest, resulting in substantial pain.
Blair appeared in court in Queens late Monday, where she was charged with two counts of second-degree assault. She was visibly emotional during the hearing, dressed in jeans and a white hooded sweatshirt while in handcuffs. Her attorney, Shawn Barnes, informed the judge that Blair’s actions were unintentional, citing her struggle with multiple sclerosis and missing doses of crucial medication that controls severe neurological symptoms.
The judge imposed a bail of $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond US, scheduling the next hearing for January. Blair left the court accompanied by her legal representatives. While specifics of the airplane incident were not immediately disclosed by relevant authorities, Delta Airlines emphasized their stringent stance against unruly behavior, prioritizing the safety of passengers and crew.
During air traffic communications, the Delta pilot requested medical personnel to be present at the gate for treating injuries sustained by Blair, but clarified that ambulances were not required. The pilot mentioned that Blair appeared to have hit her head during the flight, leading to potential confusion and disorientation due to various factors including altitude.
This incident is not the first involving Blair on an aircraft. In a previous incident in 2016, she publicly apologized for inappropriate behavior during a flight from Cancun to Los Angeles, attributing her actions to a combination of alcohol and medication. Despite these challenges, Blair, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, has been actively advocating for disability rights, even participating in events with former President Joe Biden at the White House in 2023 to commemorate the Americans with Disabilities Act.