NEW YORK — Actress Selma Blair suffered a medical emergency rather than an intentional outburst during a cross-country flight earlier this week, her representative said Friday in her first public statement since being arrested at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
Blair, 54, was taken into custody Sunday night after Delta Air Lines flight 938 landed in New York from Los Angeles. Prosecutors subsequently charged her with two felony counts of second-degree assault. The charges stem from allegations that she kicked a Port Authority police officer during transport on a stretcher and later kicked a registered nurse in the chest at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Blair pleaded not guilty during her arraignment on Monday and was released after posting bail.
Spokesperson disputes public accounts
In a statement released to People magazine on Friday, a spokesperson for Blair asserted that public perception had been unfairly distorted by incomplete reports and past headlines. The representative maintained that Blair underwent a severe health episode during the journey and denied claims that she tried to breach an aircraft exit.
“Selma Blair experienced a medical emergency on the flight,” the statement said. “There was no attempt to open the door of the aircraft. Selma did not intend to harm anyone.”
The spokesperson strongly condemned skepticism surrounding Blair’s health, pointing out that she has lived with multiple sclerosis since publicly sharing her diagnosis in 2018. The statement revealed that Blair also suffers from pseudobulbar affect, a neurological disorder linked to multiple sclerosis that can alter how an individual’s symptoms appear to bystanders during an episode. Her team also stated that law enforcement officials separated the actress from her service animal, which routinely accompanies her.
According to her representative, Blair had never faced arrest prior to Sunday night. The statement also highlighted her busy schedule this year, noting that she has worked on seven film and television projects in 2026 while running several lifestyle product lines designed for people with physical limitations and advocating for disability rights.
Defense points to medication and head injury
In Queens Criminal Court on Monday, defense attorney Shawn Barnes argued that his client had missed several doses of prescription medicine required to control severe neurological symptoms related to her multiple sclerosis, the New York Post reported. Barnes added that Blair had worked long, exhausting days on set prior to travel and sustained a head injury after falling during the flight.
Those issues, combined with high altitude, plunged the actress into extreme disorientation and confusion, Barnes told the court, according to news reports. Judge Indira Khan fixed bail at $20,000 cash or a $60,000 partially secured bond while issuing an order for Blair to stay away from the nurse involved in the altercation.
Audio recordings from pilot communications obtained by TMZ revealed that flight crew members sought medical assistance and police intervention upon touchdown, citing an unruly passenger. Port Authority police said two flight attendants sustained injuries on the aircraft, including cuts and bite marks, prompting medical treatment for one attendant. Delta Air Lines reiterated in a statement that it maintains zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior aboard its planes.
Investigations and legal next steps
Blair could face between two and seven years in prison if convicted of the state assault charges. In addition, the FBI confirmed that it is investigating the mid-air altercation, as federal authorities handle allegations of assault committed aboard commercial aircraft.
Blair is scheduled to return to court in January for the state charges, while federal authorities have not formally announced whether separate charges will be filed.
