Selma Blair arrested and charged for attacking flight attendants in mid-air

Published: 04:24 EDT, 13 October 2026 | Updated: 04:35 EDT, 13 October 2026

Selma Blair was arrested after allegedly punching and biting flight attendants aboard a Delta aircraft on Sunday.

The actress, 54, reportedly attempted to open the aircraft door mid-air as the plane was on its way to John F Kennedy International Airport from Los Angeles’ LAX, leading to a ‘confrontation’ with crew members.

The star, who suffered a ‘medical emergency’ during the meltdown, per a statement from her representative, was later charged with two counts of assault.

Selma Blair was arrested after allegedly attacking members of the flight crew aboard a Delta aircraft on Sunday – leaving distressed pilots asking for ‘medical help’ as they landed – Blair pictured last month

A Delta spokesman told The Daily Mail: ‘Delta has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first.’

The New York Port Authority confirmed two flight attendants reported injuries, with one taken to the hospital.

One of the flight attendants sustained a laceration and the other a bite. It was claimed Blair was put in restraints on the plane before her arrest.

The Daily Mail also understands Blair was arrested upon landing at John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK).

The actress, 54, reportedly attempted to open the aircraft door while the plane was in the air on its way to John F. Kennedy International Airport from LAX, leading to a ‘confrontation’ with crew members – pictured June 20

In dispatch audio obtained by the Daily Mail the captain can be overheard saying: ‘Could you pass on the folks at JFK, we’d like to have some medical personnel at the gates for a couple of the FAs involved in the passenger incident. They just need a couple things looked at.

The operator responds: ‘OK. I will pass that along. Just get an estimated station count for me, please. How many ambulances we’ll need.

‘Uh, no ambulances. Just some medical personnel available for two flight attendants at the gate should be fine,’ the captain clarifies.

The Daily Mail also understands law enforcement responded upon the flight’s arrival at JFK

Blair shared a photo of the plane’s take-off – ahead of her arrest

Law enforcement sources told TMZ that Blair ‘repeatedly kicked’ a Port Authority police officer in the head when she was in the ambulance on her way to the hospital.

The publication also obtained audio of a woman – purported to be Blair – screaming as an alarm rings out while she exits the plane at JFK.

It was further claimed that Blair allegedly assaulted a nurse when she reached the hospital, and that the nurse has pressed charges.

The state has now charged Blair with two counts of assault, one on a police officer and another on a nurse.

Blair shared her flight plans in a post shared on Sunday

A statement from New York Port Authority to The Daily Mail read: ‘On Sunday October 11 at approximately 11pm at JFK Airport, PAPD responded to a call about a physically abusive passenger aboard Delta Airlines flight 938 which was parked at the gate after arrival from LAX.

‘Suspect was identified as Selma Blair, a 54 year-old woman. She was taken into custody and transported to the hospital for evaluation.

‘Two flight attendants also reported injuries, and one was transported to the hospital for further evaluation.

‘The FBI is investigating this incident. For further information please reach out the airline and the FBI.’

Selma Blair had allegedly missed multiple doses of medication before her shocking alleged mid-air confrontation on Sunday; pictured Monday after leaving a courthouse in New York

A representative for Blair told TMZ, ‘Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct. Upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition.’

Blair was arrested and taken to a hospital for evaluation.

An FBI spokesman told The Daily Mail: ‘The FBI is responsible for investigating all assaults aboard aircraft.

‘Yesterday, we were informed by our partners at Port Authority Police Department of a potential assault aboard a flight that arrived into JFK.

‘As per long-standing DOJ policy, we do not comment on ongoing investigations.’

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for Blair for comment and has yet to hear back.

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Blair had allegedly missed multiple doses of medication before her shocking alleged mid-air confrontation, her lawyer has claimed.

Her attorneys told the New York Post on Monday that Blair had allegedly hit her head before the confrontation on a Delta flight traveling from Los Angeles to New York.

The actress was pictured leaving court on Monday after she was arraigned on two felony charges.

Blair was seen being swarmed by reporters as police and attorneys led her out of the courthouse in New York City after she made bail.

According to Page Six, Judge Indira Khan set Blair’s bail at $20,000 in cash, or a $60,000 bond or partially secured bond.

The Daily Mail has reached out to Blair’s attorneys and representatives for comment but has not yet received a response.

Her lawyer Shawn Barnes told the court on Monday, according to the outlet, ‘This was not an intentional assault.

‘Ms Blair missed several doses of… a powerful medication that controls severe neurological symptoms’ linked to her battle with multiple sclerosis.

Barnes said Blair had traveled to New York City after a long workday, and also was injured on the flight.

‘Ms Blair boarded this flight after being on set and working extensive hours and exhaustive hours in the days leading up to this flight,’ Barnes said.

‘Additionally, at one point, during the flight, there was an incident where Miss Blair actually fell and hit her head.’

Barnes said that ‘these factors, coupled with the altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation’ in the incident.

Her attorneys told the New York Post on Monday that Blair had allegedly hit her head before the confrontation. The 54-year-old actress was pictured leaving court on Monday after she was arraigned on two felony charges in the wake of an alleged mid-air fight with airline employees and passenger

Another lawyer defending the actress, Joshua Reitzas, called Blair ‘the gold standard’ and ‘someone we should look up to’ when considering ‘her body of work and what she’s done for people,’ according to the outlet.

Judge Kahn said in response that ‘Ms Blair should not get special treatment because she is a celebrity,’ the outlet reported.

Blair did not say anything as she made her way out of court Monday after posting her cash bail.

Blair seen making her way out of the court on Monday evening after her hearing

The judge ordered Blair to keep her distance from the nurse she is accused of attacking, as a criminal complaint reviewed by the outlet also indicated that the actress allegedly kicked at an officer.

Blair allegedly took her leg out of a stretcher’s straps and kicked at a Port Authority Police Officer’s face, neck and chest, the complaint indicated, as she was being transported in an ambulance from JFK Airport Terminal 4.

According to the legal complaint, after Blair was taken to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, she kicked the chest of a registered nurse.

Both the nurse and police officer reported being in pain after being attacked, prosecutors said, adding that the officer had a swollen jaw.

Blair was pictured in a white hooded sweatshirt with blue jeans as she left court Monday

In 2016, Blair apologized following a bizarre incident that happened aboard a Delta flight – where she allegedly mixed alcohol and medication before she started crying and shouting about being abused on the flight home from Cancun.

Blair was rushed to a Los Angeles hospital after she reportedly mixed alcohol and pills on a flight home from Cancun and began to scream about a man physically abusing her.

‘He burns my private parts. He won’t let me eat or drink. He beats me. He’s going to kill me,’ shouted Blair, who broke down in tears, fellow passengers told TMZ.

The troubling incident comes days after Blair attended the ADL State of the Arts: An Evening at The Jewish Museum event on October 1

‘I made a big mistake yesterday. After a lovely trip with my son and his Dad, I mixed alcohol with medication, and that caused me to black out and led me to say and do things that I deeply regret,’ said Blair in a statement to Vanity Fair.

‘My son was with his Dad asleep with his headphones on, so there is that saving grace. I take this very seriously, and I apologize to all of the passengers and crew that I disturbed and am thankful to all of the people who helped me in the aftermath.

‘I am a flawed human being who makes mistakes and am filled with shame over this incident. I am truly very sorry.’

She shares son Arthur, 15, with ex Jason Bleick.

In 2018, Blair revealed her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis, a central nervous system condition that damages nerves, affecting the electrical signals in the brain.

MS can cause muscle weakness, vision changes, numbness and memory loss.

Should passengers who endanger a flight face a lifetime ban, or should airlines consider each case individually?