Actress Selma Blair was arraigned Monday on two counts of second-degree assault after an alleged mid-air incident aboard a Delta flight from Los Angeles that ended with her arrest at John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens, New York.
Port Authority officials said police responded to a call about a “physically abusive passenger” aboard Delta Flight 938 shortly before 11 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 11, after the plane had parked at the gate following its arrival from LAX. Blair, 54, was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for evaluation.
According to an affidavit, Port Authority Officer Maria Suarez was helping secure Blair on a stretcher at approximately 11:50 p.m. ET when Blair allegedly removed her leg from the stretcher straps and kicked Suarez repeatedly in the face, neck and chest. Suarez suffered swelling to her jaw and substantial pain to her face, neck and chest, and was treated at a Queens-area hospital. Blair is also accused of kicking a nurse in the chest at a Queens hospital.
Two Delta flight attendants reported injuries during the incident, with one taken to a hospital. Sources told TMZ that Blair allegedly punched one flight attendant and bit another during the flight.
Judge Indira Khan set bail at $20,000 cash, a $60,000 bond, or a $60,000 partially secured bond. Blair is expected back in court in January 2027. Law enforcement officials also confirmed she was separately served with a summons by the FBI and faces one federal assault charge.
Defense Points to Missed Medication
During Monday’s court appearance in Queens, Blair’s attorney, Shawn Barnes, told the court the incident was not intentional, according to the New York Post. Barnes said Blair had missed several doses of “a powerful medication that controls severe neurological symptoms” and had boarded the flight after extensive work hours on set in the days prior.
“Additionally, at one point, during the flight, there was an incident where Miss Blair actually fell and hit her head. These factors, coupled with altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation,” Barnes said.
A representative for Blair told Fox News Digital at the time of the arrest that she “experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct” and that “upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition.”
Delta confirmed law enforcement responded to the 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,” the airline said in a statement.
Blair was traveling with her service dog, which is now in the custody of her attorney, according to CBS.
Boyfriend Asks for Prayers
Andy Kiernan, Blair’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, asked followers for compassion in an Instagram story posted Monday. “Pray for Selma,” he wrote. “She has a good heart. She hasn’t yet got the help she needs. Pray that she does.”
Kiernan also referenced Blair’s 15-year-old son, Arthur Saint Bleick, whom she co-parents with fashion designer Jason Bleick. “She’s a human being like the rest of us. Pray for Arthur too,” he wrote.
It is unclear when Kiernan and Blair began dating or whether they are currently together. The two went public in 2024, according to photos published by the Daily Mail. Representatives for both did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
