Selma Blair Charged With Assault After Alleged Attacks on Flight Crew, Police Officer and Nurse

Actress Selma Blair has pleaded not guilty to assault charges after allegedly attacking a police officer and hospital nurse following a disturbance aboard a Delta Air Lines flight in which two flight attendants were injured, while federal authorities separately pursue allegations involving the crew.

Blair, 54, appeared in Queens Criminal Court on October 12, 2026, where a judge set bail at $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond. The FBI also issued a federal summons following the October 11 flight from Los Angeles to New York, during which Blair allegedly punched one flight attendant, bit another, and attempted to open an aircraft door.

The New York charges stem from incidents that allegedly occurred after Delta Flight 938 landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport. According to the criminal complaint, Blair kicked a Port Authority police officer around the face, neck, and chest while officers were securing her to a stretcher. She is also accused of kicking a nurse in the chest after being transported to a hospital.

Prosecutors charged Blair with two counts of second-degree assault involving the officer and nurse. Both allegations remain unproven, and Blair entered a not guilty plea during her arraignment.

The confrontation began aboard the flight from Los Angeles International Airport, where crew members reported that Blair became physically aggressive. Authorities were notified before landing, and Port Authority officers met the aircraft at the gate after receiving reports of an unruly passenger.

According to accounts of the incident, Blair struck one flight attendant and bit another during the disturbance. She also allegedly attempted to open an aircraft door while the plane was in flight, prompting crew members to restrain her. Two attendants reported injuries, and one was taken to a hospital for medical attention.

Federal authorities are separately examining the alleged assaults aboard the aircraft. The FBI issued a summons concerning the in-flight conduct, which falls under federal jurisdiction because of laws governing offenses aboard commercial aircraft. The federal matter is expected to proceed in Brooklyn, although an initial appearance date has not been announced.

Blair's legal team maintains that the events resulted from a serious medical emergency rather than an intentional attempt to harm anyone. During the arraignment, her attorney said the actress had missed doses of medication prescribed for multiple sclerosis and suffered a head injury during the flight, leaving her disoriented.

Her representative previously said Blair received medical attention immediately after landing and was in stable condition following hospitalization. The defense contends that her medical condition affected her behavior, an explanation that has not yet been evaluated by the court.

The medical circumstances could become relevant as prosecutors pursue the charges, including whether Blair possessed the required mental state for the alleged offenses. The court will determine the legal significance of those circumstances based on the evidence presented.

Delta Air Lines confirmed that law enforcement responded after the aircraft arrived at JFK. The airline said it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward unruly or unlawful passenger behavior and emphasized that the safety of customers and crew remains its priority.

The flight landed ahead of schedule, and Delta reported no disruption to its other operations. The airline did not provide details concerning Blair's medical condition or the specific injuries reported by crew members.

The state criminal proceedings and the federal matter concern separate alleged conduct arising from the same travel incident. New York prosecutors are pursuing the accusations involving the police officer and nurse, while federal authorities are addressing the reported confrontation with flight attendants.

Blair's next appearance in Queens Criminal Court is scheduled for January 19, 2027. The federal summons is expected to lead to separate proceedings, with no publicly confirmed court date announced for that matter.