Selma Blair charged with assault after Delta flight to New York

Updated 11:30 WAT, 15 October 2026: Blair pleaded not guilty to both state assault charges and was released after posting bail, and her next hearing in Queens is set for 19 January 2027, CBS New York reported.

Selma Blair, the 54-year-old actress known for Cruel Intentions and Legally Blonde, has been charged with assault after an incident on a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York on Sunday night, 11 October 2026.

A judge in Queens set bail at $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond when she was arraigned late on Monday, 12 October, on two counts of second-degree assault, the Associated Press reported. She pleaded not guilty to both counts, and her next hearing is on 19 January 2027, CBS New York reported.

Her team says a medical emergency led to the alleged conduct. Police say two flight attendants were hurt on the plane, and that a police officer and a nurse were kicked afterwards. The FBI has opened a separate federal case.

What is Selma Blair charged with?

She faces two counts of second-degree assault under New York state law, plus a federal assault charge over what happened on board, according to the AP. The state counts come from what police say happened after the plane landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

According to police charging documents quoted by the AP, an officer was strapping her to a stretcher for the trip to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center when she pulled one leg free and kicked him repeatedly in the face, neck and chest. A nurse at the hospital later said Blair kicked her in the chest. In New York, second-degree assault is a felony, and the law covers injuring a police officer or a nurse on duty.

The federal charge came as a violation notice from the FBI, which investigates assaults on aircraft. It will go to the petty offences court at the federal courthouse in Brooklyn, and no date had been set as of 11:30am WAT on Tuesday, 13 October.

What happened on Delta Flight 938?

Port Authority police were called to a “physically abusive passenger” at about 11pm New York time on Sunday, which was 4am WAT on Monday, and detained Blair while the plane was parked at the gate. She and one flight attendant were taken to hospital for checks, the Port Authority said.

Here is what is on the record and what is not. CBS New York, citing a law enforcement source, reported that she bit one flight attendant and that another was cut, and that the crew had to restrain her. Neither Delta, the police nor the FBI had described the in-flight incident publicly as of Tuesday morning, and the FBI said it does not comment on ongoing investigations. None of the claims has been tested in court.

What has Selma Blair’s team said?

“Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct,” her representative said in a statement given to ABC News, CBS New York and the AP. The statement added that she got medical attention as soon as the plane landed and was in stable condition. In court, her lawyer, Shawn Barnes, said her actions were “not intentional”, that she had missed doses of medication that controls severe neurological symptoms and that she hit her head during the flight, AP reported. Blair herself had not posted about the incident as of 11:30am WAT on Tuesday.

Delta did not name her. The airline said it “has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first.” Nigerian travellers know the carrier from its Lagos to Atlanta service, so the same zero-tolerance rule applies on flights out of Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

How did we get here?

• 2016: Blair apologised after an outburst on a flight from Cancun to Los Angeles, saying she had mixed alcohol with medication and blacked out (AP).
• 2018: She said publicly that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and went on to campaign for disability rights.
• 2 October 2023: She walked with President Joe Biden at the White House reception marking the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
• Sunday, 11 October 2026, about 11pm New York time: Port Authority police detained her at the gate at JFK after Delta Flight 938 landed from Los Angeles.
• Monday, 12 October 2026: Her representative blamed a medical emergency; she was arraigned in Queens late that night and bail was set.

What happens next

Blair is due back in court in Queens on 19 January 2027 on the two state assault charges, to which she has pleaded not guilty, CBS New York reported. No date has yet been set for the separate federal assault notice, which will be heard in federal court in Brooklyn, AP reported. Her best-known films, including Legally Blonde and Hellboy, are not tied to the case, and their availability on Nigerian streaming services was not confirmed for this story.

FAQ

Why was Selma Blair arrested?
Police say she injured two flight attendants on a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York on 11 October 2026, then kicked a police officer and a nurse. Her representative says a medical emergency led to the alleged conduct.

Is Selma Blair still in custody?
A Queens judge set bail at $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond at her arraignment on 12 October 2026, and Variety reported that she was released on bail.

What does second-degree assault mean in New York?
It is a felony charge. It includes causing injury to a police officer or a nurse while they are doing their job.

Should airlines handle passengers in a medical crisis differently? Tell us in the comments.

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