Selma Blair was arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday, October 11, 2026, after authorities said she assaulted two flight attendants on a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York. The 54-year-old actress was taken into custody just after 11 p.m. and transported to a hospital for evaluation.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said police responded to a call about a physically abusive passenger. Two flight attendants reported injuries, and one was taken to a hospital for further evaluation. The FBI, which investigates assaults on aircraft, is investigating the incident.
Alleged Assault on Flight Attendants
According to law enforcement reports, Blair attempted to open the aircraft door during the flight. She allegedly punched one flight attendant and bit another. Blair was restrained aboard the aircraft before being taken into custody.
Dispatch audio obtained by TMZ indicated that paramedics were called for one flight attendant and one passenger for injuries including a bloody nose and bite marks. The pilot told the tower that the disruptive passenger had also bashed her head on the bulkhead.
After her arrest, Blair was accused of kicking a Port Authority police officer who was taking her to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. A police officer said in charging documents that Blair pulled a leg from the straps while being secured to a stretcher and kicked her repeatedly around the face, neck and chest, causing serious pain and substantial swelling. A nurse at the hospital also said Blair kicked her in the chest.
Charges and Arraignment
Blair was arraigned on two counts of second-degree assault late Monday at a court in Queens. She pleaded not guilty to the state charges involving the police officer and the nurse. She appeared to cry as she stood in court in handcuffs, wearing jeans and a white hooded sweatshirt.
Judge Indira Kahn set bail at $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond. Blair posted the cash and was released. Her next hearing was set for January.
Blair also faces separate federal charges based on what happened on the flight. The FBI issued her a summons accusing her of assaults within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The matter will be handled through the petty violations court in federal court in Brooklyn. No date has been set for her appearance.
Representatives Cite Medical Emergency
A representative for Blair said she experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct. ‘Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct,’ the representative said. ‘Upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition.’
Blair’s defense attorney, Shawn Barnes, told the court that Blair had missed several doses of a powerful medication that controls severe neurological symptoms related to her multiple sclerosis. Barnes said Blair had been working extensive and exhaustive hours before the flight and had hit her head during the flight.
Barnes told the judge, ‘These factors coupled with the altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation.’ He added, ‘This was not an intentional assault.’
A Delta Airlines spokesperson said in a statement, ‘Delta has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first.’
Prior In-Flight Incident
This is not the first time Blair has been involved in an incident on a plane. In 2016, she was removed from a Delta flight from Cancun to Los Angeles on a stretcher after a disruptive outburst. Blair said at the time that she had mixed alcohol with medication, which caused her to black out.
Blair said in a statement to Vanity Fair at the time, ‘I made a big mistake yesterday. After a lovely trip with my son and his Dad, I mixed alcohol with medication, and that caused me to black out and led me to say and do things that I deeply regret. My son was with his Dad asleep with his headphones on, so there is that saving grace.’
She added, ‘I take this very seriously, and I apologize to all of the passengers and crew that I disturbed and am thankful to all of the people who helped me in the aftermath. I am a flawed human being who makes mistakes and am filled with shame over this incident. I am truly very sorry.’
Blair was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018. She has advocated for disability rights and joined then-US president Joe Biden at the White House in 2023 to celebrate the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Blair is due back in court in January 2027.
