Published: 12:37 AM, 20 October 2026
Selma Blair charged after alleged assaults on flight attendants
Actor Selma Blair was arrested after she was accused of injuring two flight attendants on a trip from Los Angeles to New York. She was also accused of kicking a police officer taking her to the hospital and kicking a nurse once she got there.
Blair, 54, was detained at John F. Kennedy International Airport around 11:00pm Sunday after a Delta Air Lines flight arrived, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said.
According to court documents, she allegedly kicked a police officer repeatedly in the face, neck and chest while being secured to a stretcher, causing pain and swelling. She later allegedly kicked a nurse in the chest at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Blair was arraigned Monday night in Queens on two counts of second-degree assault. Her lawyer, Shawn Barnes, said her actions were unintentional, citing her multiple sclerosis, missed doses of medication, a heavy workload and a head injury during the flight. He said these factors and the altitude caused severe confusion and disorientation.
The judge set bail at $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond, with the next hearing scheduled for January.
The FBI also issued Blair a notice charging her with assault over the incident aboard the aircraft. The federal case will be handled in Brooklyn, though no court date has been set.
Delta said it had zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behaviour. The airline, police and FBI did not immediately disclose full details of the onboard incident.
Blair previously apologised for an incident on a 2016 flight after mixing alcohol with medication. Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, she has since advocated for disability rights and attended a White House event in 2023 marking the Americans with Disabilities Act anniversary. She is known for films including “Cruel Intentions,” “Legally Blonde” and “Hellboy.”
