Selma Blair Faces Jail Time for Alleged Mid-Air Assault

Actress Selma Blair faces potential jail time after her arrest on Sunday for allegedly assaulting flight attendants, a police officer, and a nurse. Blair pleaded not guilty on Monday to two counts of second-degree assault in Queens Criminal Court in New York.

She also faces separate federal charges stemming from the incident aboard a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York. According to a law enforcement source, the FBI issued Blair a summons for alleged assaults within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. No date has been set for the federal case, which is expected to be handled in petty violations court in Brooklyn.

According to New York sentencing guidelines, Blair could face up to seven years in jail if convicted on the state charges. Her attorney, Shawn Barnes, stated in court that the actress had missed several doses of medication that controls severe neurological symptoms and that she had been diagnosed with Parkinsonism, a group of nervous system disorders that cause movement symptoms.

Barnes also claimed that Blair, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, had been working extensive hours leading up to the flight and that she fell and hit her head during the journey. He suggested these factors, combined with altitude, led to a state of severe confusion and disorientation. Another attorney for Blair, Joshua Reitzas, referred to her as "the gold standard," but Judge Kahn responded that Blair should not receive special treatment due to her celebrity status.

Blair was arrested after allegedly attempting to open the aircraft door mid-flight, leading to a confrontation. A Delta spokesperson stated that the airline has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior and that the safety of customers and crew is paramount. Dispatch audio indicated that two crew members required medical attention upon landing, with reports of a bloody nose and bite marks.

Following her arrival at JFK Airport, Blair was taken into custody and transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. According to a legal complaint, she allegedly kicked a Port Authority Police Officer in the face, neck, and chest, and later kicked a registered nurse. Both the nurse and the officer reported pain, and the officer sustained a swollen jaw.

Blair was released on $20,000 cash bail, or a $60,000 bond. She is due back in court on January 19 for the state charges. The FBI is investigating the incident aboard the aircraft.