Selma Blair charged with assault after JFK flight incident
Sandego.net – Selma Blair charged with assault after authorities said two flight attendants were injured during a commercial flight from Los Angeles to New York City. The actress faces two counts of second-degree assault following the incident aboard Delta Air Lines Flight 938, which arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday night.
Blair appeared in court Monday evening and did not enter a plea. Judge Indira Khan set bail at $20,000, issued an order of protection for a nurse involved in the case, and scheduled Blair to return to court on January 19.
What authorities say happened on the flight
Port Authority police responded after the flight landed at JFK following a report of an allegedly physically abusive passenger. Blair was identified as the suspect, taken into custody, and transported to a hospital for evaluation.
Two crew members reported injuries, with one taken to a hospital for further assessment. Air traffic control audio indicated that medical help was requested for two flight attendants after landing. The dispatch audio referred to injuries including a bloody nose and bite marks, while also noting that the disruptive passenger may have hit her head on a bulkhead.
A law-enforcement source said Blair allegedly bit one flight attendant and caused lacerations to another. The source said she was restrained with plastic restraints during the episode.
Claims involving a Port Authority officer and nurse
The complaint also includes allegations from after Blair left the aircraft. Prosecutors said that while she was being secured to a stretcher before entering an ambulance, she kicked a Port Authority officer.
According to the complaint, Blair got one leg free from the stretcher restraints and struck the officer in the head and chest. Hours later, she allegedly kicked a nurse in the chest while being taken for additional treatment.
Her attorney, Shawn Barnes, said Blair had spent extensive hours on a set before boarding the flight, fell and hit her head on the plane, and had missed her medication. Barnes said she spent seven to eight hours at a hospital before police took her into custody and later returned to the hospital. Blair had also been traveling with a service animal, which her attorney took possession of at the hospital.
FBI investigation and airline response
The FBI is investigating the incident. The agency’s New York field office said it does not discuss active investigations.
“[We do] not comment on ongoing investigations.”
Delta said law enforcement met the aircraft on arrival and said the safety of passengers and crew remains its priority.
“[Delta] has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first.”
The case in which Selma Blair was charged with assault comes amid continued scrutiny of disruptive behavior on flights. The Federal Aviation Administration has recorded 1,331 reports involving unruly passengers on aircraft so far this year.
Blair’s health history and earlier flight incident
Blair revealed in 2018 that she has multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune condition affecting the central nervous system. Her experience with the illness and treatment was explored in a 2021 documentary.
She was also removed from a Cancun-to-Los Angeles flight on a stretcher in 2016 after becoming unruly and was hospitalized. Blair later called that incident a serious mistake and said mixing alcohol and medication had caused her to black out.
FAQ: Selma Blair flight incident at JFK
What charges does Selma Blair face?
Selma Blair has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault. She did not enter a plea during her Monday court appearance.
Where did the incident happen?
The alleged incident occurred on Delta Air Lines Flight 938 from Los Angeles International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City.
When is Blair due back in court?
She is scheduled to return to court on January 19.
