By Paul Joseph
American actress Selma Blair has been charged with assault following an alleged altercation involving flight attendants aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York, according to US authorities.
The Legally Blonde and Hellboy star, 54, was investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) after the incident, which occurred around 11 p.m. local time aboard Delta Flight 938.
The New York Port Authority said airport officials responded to reports of a physically abusive passenger when the aircraft arrived at John F. Kennedy International Airport. Two flight attendants were reportedly injured, with one taken to hospital.
Blair was arrested and subsequently taken to hospital for medical attention. Her publicist told the BBC that the actress had experienced a medical emergency that allegedly led to the incident.
“Upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition,” the publicist said.
According to CBS News, the actress was transported to hospital in an ambulance, where she allegedly kicked a police officer. Prosecutors also accused her of assaulting a nurse at the hospital.
Following her release from hospital, Blair was 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 reportedly set her bail at $20,000 in cash or $60,000 bond. Her next court hearing is scheduled for January 19, while no date has been announced for the separate federal case relating to the alleged incident aboard the aircraft.
A federal law enforcement source told the BBC on Monday that Blair had been issued a summons over an alleged assault within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.
Audio of air traffic control communications obtained by CBS News reportedly captured the pilot requesting medical assistance, citing a bloody nose and bite marks. The flight crew allegedly restrained Blair during the incident.
Delta Air Lines confirmed that law enforcement officers responded after the plane landed, adding that the incident did not disrupt flight operations.
“Delta has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first,” the airline said in a statement to the BBC.
Blair, who starred in Cruel Intentions and other Hollywood productions, stepped back from much of her film work after revealing in 2018 that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).
She announced in 2021 that the disease was in remission. Before the latest incident, she had shared social media posts documenting her travels with her service dog, Scout, an English Red Fox Labrador she acquired to assist her with her neurological condition.
The actress also had a widely reported incident aboard a flight in 2016, when she experienced an outburst after mixing medication with alcohol. She later apologised publicly, saying she had made a mistake and experienced a blackout.
In her 2022 memoir, Mean Baby, Blair also wrote about biting celebrities, including Sienna Miller, Seth MacFarlane and Kate Moss, describing how she could react when overwhelmed.
The latest allegations remain subject to legal proceedings. Blair has pleaded not guilty to the two state assault counts, and the allegations should not be treated as established facts.
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