Selma Blair Apologizes for 'Scary' Airplane Incident After Arrest
The actress broke her silence weeks after an alleged altercation on a Delta flight, stating she never intended to harm anyone.
Actress Selma Blair has apologized for an alleged altercation on a Delta flight earlier this month, stating she never intended to hurt or frighten anyone. Blair, 54, issued the apology via an Instagram video, explaining that her lawyers advised her against speaking due to the ongoing legal proceedings.
"Not one day ever have I intended to hurt or frighten anyone a day in my life. And so to the people I disappointed, that I hurt, I frightened, alarmed I am so sorry," Blair said in the video, which appeared to be filmed in her home. She added that she would be focusing on her health and her son.
Blair was arrested for assault and arraigned on Oct. 12 on two counts of second-degree assault. The charges stem from alleged attacks on a Port Authority police officer and a nurse following her arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Delta Flight 938 from Los Angeles. New York Port Authority officials confirmed that police responded to a call about a "physically abusive passenger" aboard the flight.
According to court documents, Blair was restrained on a stretcher at the airport but allegedly freed her leg and kicked an officer in the face, neck, and chest. A nurse at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, where Blair was taken, also alleged that the actress kicked her in the chest while being moved.
Blair pleaded not guilty, and her bail was set at $20,000 cash, $60,000 bond, or a $60,000 partially secured bond. She is expected in court in January 2027.
Delta Airlines confirmed that law enforcement responded to an incident upon the flight's arrival at JFK. "Delta has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first," a Delta statement read. Sources told TMZ that Blair allegedly punched one flight attendant and bit another during the flight. Blair was also separately served with a summons by the FBI, facing one charge of assault.
Blair's lawyer told the court that the actress had missed several doses of medication intended to manage severe neurological symptoms. A spokesperson for Blair later released a statement emphasizing that the actress "did not intend to harm anyone" and that there was no attempt to open the aircraft door. The spokesperson also addressed rumors about Blair's Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis, calling them "outrageous" and highlighting her physical progress since 2018. The statement concluded by urging for consideration of all facts before judgment. Mental health and neurological conditions can sometimes cause unexpected behavioral changes. Blair was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 2018.