Selma Blair's representative stated that the actress "did not intend to harm anyone" following an alleged incident on a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York on Oct. 11. The representative explained that Blair experienced a medical emergency on the flight and that there was no attempt to open the aircraft door.
Blair, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, has dealt with "bad days" and "pain daily," according to her representative. The statement also noted that she has pseudobulbar affect, a neurological condition secondary to MS, which can affect how medical episodes present. Her team urged consideration of all facts before judgment.
The actress pleaded not guilty on Monday to two counts of assault. She was released on bond and is scheduled to return to court in January. The Port Authority Police Department reported responding to a call about a physically abusive passenger aboard Delta flight 938 upon its arrival at JFK Airport.
Sources familiar with the matter indicated Blair received treatment at Jamaica Hospital in Queens. Two flight attendants sustained injuries during the alleged incident, with one requiring hospitalization. Air traffic control audio revealed that pilots had informed controllers of a passenger with a bloody nose and another with bite marks, requesting medical personnel at the gate.
A criminal complaint filed in Queens charged Blair with two counts of assault in the second degree. A judge set her bail at $20,000 cash or a bond of $60,000. The case was adjourned to January 19, 2027.
In addition to state charges, Blair received a federal violation notice regarding assaults within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration are also investigating the incident.
This is not the first time Blair has been involved in an inflight incident. In June 2016, she was removed from a plane on a stretcher after reportedly causing a scene, later attributing the event to mixing alcohol with her medication. Blair, known for her roles in films like "The Sweetest Thing" and "Legally Blonde," announced she was in remission from multiple sclerosis in 2021.