NEW YORK — Actress Selma Blair pleaded not guilty in a New York courtroom following an alleged violent outburst aboard a Delta Air Lines flight and subsequent altercations with emergency personnel and hospital staff, authorities said.
Blair, 54, was arrested late Sunday after Delta Flight 938 arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport from Los Angeles. Prosecutors allege the actress assaulted flight crew members during the trip before kicking a Port Authority police officer in an ambulance and later striking a registered nurse at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
During an arraignment Monday night in Queens, Blair entered not guilty pleas to two state counts of second-degree assault. She was also issued a federal summons for assault within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, according to law enforcement officials.
Defense Cites Medication and Head Injury
Attorneys representing Blair argued the incident stemmed from an involuntary medical crisis linked to her multiple sclerosis diagnosis. Defense lawyer Shawn Barnes told the court that Blair had worked grueling hours on a film set prior to boarding and had missed several doses of prescription medication intended to treat severe neurological symptoms.
Barnes said Blair also fell and hit her head during the journey, stating that “these factors, coupled with the altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation.” Her representatives similarly told the BBC that a medical emergency triggered the alleged actions.
During the hearing, defense attorney Joshua Reitzas asked the court to consider Blair’s career achievements and advocacy work, calling her “the gold standard.” Judge Indira Khan rejected calls for leniency, stating that Blair should not receive special treatment due to her celebrity status. Khan set bail at $20,000 in cash or a $60,000 bond, which Blair posted before being released. The judge also ordered Blair to stay away from the nurse involved in the incident.
Disturbances on Board and in Transit
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported that airport personnel responded Sunday evening to reports of an abusive passenger on the incoming aircraft. According to air traffic control audio reviewed by CBS News, a pilot requested emergency medical assistance upon landing, noting that crew members had suffered a bloody nose and bite marks. Two flight attendants sustained injuries, with one requiring hospital care.
According to court filings reported by the New York Post, the confrontation continued after the plane landed. Authorities alleged Blair slipped her leg out of stretcher restraints inside an ambulance and kicked an officer in the face, neck and chest, leaving the officer with a swollen jaw. At the hospital, prosecutors alleged she kicked a nurse in the chest.
Delta Air Lines said in a statement that it maintains zero tolerance for unruly behavior and prioritizes the safety of passengers and crew. An FBI spokesperson confirmed the agency is investigating the onboard altercation in coordination with Port Authority police.
Upcoming Appearances and Legal Road Ahead
The incident is not Blair’s first public travel disruption. In June 2016, she was removed from an international flight from Mexico to Los Angeles, an episode she later attributed to blacking out after mixing alcohol with medication, according to the Daily Mail.
Despite the pending charges, organizers for ’90s Con confirmed Blair remains scheduled to appear at the Hartford, Connecticut, fan convention this coming weekend. Legal proceedings concerning the state assault charges and the federal summons are expected to continue in the coming weeks as investigators review medical documentation and witness statements.
