Selma Blair has pleaded not guilty to two assault charges after allegedly attacking flight crew during a flight from Los Angeles to New York.
The actress, known for Legally Blonde and Cruel Intentions, was arrested at John F Kennedy International Airport after allegedly punching and biting two Delta flight attendants.
She is also accused of kicking a police officer and attacking a nurse following the incident. Audio from the cockpit and passenger cabin has reportedly been released, including a recording of Blair screaming as she was removed from the aircraft.
Blair entered her plea during an appearance at a court in Queens, New York, on Monday evening. She will also face separate charges from the FBI, which investigates assaults aboard aircraft.
Her legal team told the court that she had suffered a medical emergency caused by several factors, including missing medication used to manage her multiple sclerosis and sustaining a head injury during the flight.
The court also heard that Blair had been working long hours and was exhausted before travelling. Her lawyers said the combination of exhaustion and her medical issues had left her in a “state of severe confusion and disorientation”.
The presiding judge reportedly told the court that Blair should not receive special treatment because she is a celebrity.
Delta said in a statement that it had “zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behaviour”, adding that the safety of its customers and crew always came first.
Blair was released on bail and is due to appear before the court again in January 2027.
