Selma Blair has been arrested after allegedly assaulting members of the crew during a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York, authorities said. The actress, 54, was taken into custody after the aircraft arrived at John F Kennedy International Airport.
Blair is accused of trying to open the aircraft door while the plane was in the air, prompting a confrontation with flight attendants. It has been alleged that she punched one attendant and bit another.
The New York Port Authority said two flight attendants reported injuries, with one taken to hospital for further evaluation. One attendant was said to have suffered a laceration and the other a bite.
Port Authority police were called at about 11pm on Sunday October 11, after Delta flight 938 arrived from Los Angeles and was parked at the gate. Blair was taken to hospital for evaluation and was later reported to be in a stable condition.
A representative for Blair said she had experienced “a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct”. The representative added that she received immediate medical attention after landing.
Law enforcement sources have also alleged that Blair repeatedly kicked a Port Authority police officer in the head while being taken to hospital in an ambulance. It was further claimed that she assaulted a nurse at the hospital, who has pressed charges.
Blair has been charged with two counts of assault, one relating to a police officer and another involving a nurse, according to the reports. The FBI is investigating the incident.
The Port Authority said Blair had been identified as the suspect and taken into custody, while declining to provide further information and directing inquiries about the investigation to the airline and the FBI.
Delta said: “Delta has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first.”
Audio from the aircraft’s arrival indicated that medical personnel were requested at the gate for two flight attendants. The captain was heard asking for assistance for “a couple of the FAs involved in the passenger incident”, before clarifying that ambulances were not required.
Blair, known for films including Cruel Intentions, was previously involved in an incident on a Delta flight in 2016. She later apologised, saying she had mixed alcohol with medication and had blacked out.
In 2018, Blair disclosed that she had multiple sclerosis, a condition affecting the central nervous system. She has since said she was “truly relapse-free” from symptoms and was feeling well.
