Selma Blair charged with 2 counts of assault after being hospitalised after plane incident
Actress Selma Blair has been charged with two counts of assault after being accused of kicking a police officer repeatedly, according to a criminal court affidavit.
The Legally Blonde actress, 54, is also accused of kicking a nurse in the chest while being transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for further treatment, per the affidavit.
Blair was arrested at New York’s JFK Airport on Sunday following a report of a ‘physically abusive passenger’, officials say.
She is understood to have been arrested shortly after 23:00 local time, after officials from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey received a call about 'a physically abusive passenger aboard Delta Air Lines flight 938 which was parked at the gate'.
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On Monday, the Port Authority said the 54-year-old 'was taken into custody and transported to the hospital for evaluation', saying in a statement: “Two flight attendants also reported injuries, and one was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.”
The Port Authority also said the FBI, which investigates incidents like this, was now involved in the case.
According to a court affidavit, Blair is accused of removing her leg from the stretcher straps and repeatedly kicking a Port Authority police officer in the face, neck and chest. The officer suffered swelling to her jaw and significant pain, the affidavit states.
Blair is also accused of kicking a nurse in the chest at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center at about 02:00 on 12 October, while being transferred for further treatment. The nurse reported significant pain and was granted an order of protection, according to the affidavit.
According to a 911 call obtained by TMZ, the pilot of the flight Blair was on had asked for police and medical staff to be waiting at the gate to treat two people injured during the flight. It is alleged that Blair punched attendants, tried to bite one and also attempted to open an aircraft door.
However, officials have not stated or confirmed these reports.
The pilot said: “Sounds like one passenger and one flight attendant that sustained some minor injuries — a bloody nose as well as some bite marks,” according to the audio.
Blair was released from hospital and taken to Queens Central Booking, where she pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault relating to the alleged incidents in the ambulance and hospital.
A judge set bail at $20,000 in cash or a $60,000 bond, according to court records and she was released later that evening.
Her next court hearing is scheduled for 19 January 2027.
A date has not been set for the federal case which relates to the alleged assault on board the flight.
Blair’s defence lawyer said she had missed medication prescribed for her multiple sclerosis and had also fallen and hit her head before the alleged incidents.
According to Page Six, he said she had been working 'extensive hours and exhaustive hours' in the days before the flight.
“These factors coupled with the altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation,” Barnes said.
“This was not an intentional assault,” he continued.
A Delta Airline spokesperson said there is a “zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behaviour, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first”.
“Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct. Upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition”, a representative for Blair told PEOPLE in a statement shared on Monday.
In 2016, during a flight from Cancun, Mexico to Los Angeles, the then 43-year-old was reported to have cried and shouted and was later taken from the aircraft in a stretcher.
Blair issued an apology at the time, explaining: “I made a big mistake yesterday."
Blair further apologised to the passengers and crew, saying she was ashamed of the incident and took it very seriously. She said: “I am a flawed human being who makes mistakes and am filled with shame over this incident. I am truly very sorry.”
Tyla has reached out to Blair’s representatives for comment.
Greg Harris