Actor Selma Blair was taken into custody after allegedly causing harm to two flight attendants during a flight from Los Angeles to New York. Additionally, Blair faced charges for assaulting a police officer and a nurse while being transported to a hospital. The incident occurred at New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport when the Delta Air Lines plane was at the gate.
Blair, aged 54, was apprehended around 11 p.m. ET on Sunday. Both Blair and one of the flight attendants were subsequently taken to the hospital for evaluation. Charging documents revealed that Blair, suffering from multiple sclerosis, exhibited violent behavior towards the police officer and nurse, causing significant pain.
She was arraigned on two counts of second-degree assault in Queens late Monday, appearing emotional during the court proceedings. Her attorney explained that her actions were unintentional, attributing them to missing doses of medication and the effects of a heavy workload combined with a head injury during the flight.
The judge set Blair’s bail at $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond US, scheduling the next hearing for January. Delta Airlines expressed zero tolerance for disruptive behavior onboard, emphasizing passenger and crew safety as their top priority. The details of the incident were not immediately disclosed by the airline, police, or the FBI, which was conducting an investigation.
In a previous in-flight incident in 2016, Blair had apologized for behavior resulting from a mix of alcohol and medication. Despite her struggles, Blair has been an advocate for disability rights following her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2018, even participating in events with former President Joe Biden.