American actress Selma Blair has been arrested following an alleged altercation aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York, where she reportedly bit one flight attendant, punched another and attempted to open an aircraft door mid-flight.
The incident occurred on Sunday, October 11, 2026, and resulted in the 54-year-old actress being taken into custody after the plane landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York.
She is also accused of assaulting a police officer and a nurse after the flight, according to reports by Reuters and the Associated Press. 
Why was Selma Blair arrested?
According to reports, the incident involved Delta flight 938, which was travelling from Los Angeles to New York. Authorities responded after receiving reports of a physically abusive passenger aboard the aircraft.
Blair allegedly became aggressive during the journey, striking one flight attendant and biting another. Reports also alleged that she attempted to open the plane’s door while the aircraft was airborne. At least two members of the cabin crew reportedly sustained injuries, with one attendant taken to hospital for treatment.
Following the aircraft’s arrival at JFK, Blair was detained and taken for medical evaluation. Authorities subsequently accused her of kicking a Port Authority police officer and a nurse at the hospital.
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Selma Blair faces assault charges
The arrest has since developed into a legal matter involving both state and federal authorities.
Blair pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault relating to the alleged incidents involving the police officer and nurse. She was released on bail following her arraignment in Queens Criminal Court, according to The Washington Post.
Separately, the FBI issued a summons concerning alleged assaults aboard the aircraft.
A representative for the actress said Blair had experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged behaviour. The representative added that she received medical attention after landing and was in stable condition.
Delta Air Lines, meanwhile, reiterated its position that it does not tolerate unruly or unlawful conduct, emphasising the safety of passengers and crew.
Actress has previously spoken about an in-flight incident
The latest Selma Blair arrest has also drawn attention to a separate incident in 2016, when the actress was removed from a flight on a stretcher following a medical episode.
Blair later told Vanity Fair that mixing alcohol with medication had caused her to black out. This lead her to say and do things she regretted. The actress has also discussed impulsive behaviour in her 2022 memoir, Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up, including accounts of biting celebrities such as Kate Moss and Seth MacFarlane.
However, the circumstances surrounding the latest incident remain subject to legal proceedings. The allegations have also not been established as facts in court.
Blair’s career and health journey
Blair is widely recognised for her roles in films including Cruel Intentions and Legally Blonde. Beyond acting, she has spoken publicly about living with multiple sclerosis, a condition she was diagnosed with in 2018.
Her experience with the disease was documented in the 2021 film Introducing, Selma Blair, which followed aspects of her life after diagnosis.
As investigations continue, the actress’s representatives maintain that a medical emergency preceded the alleged conduct. The legal proceedings will determine the outcome of the charges arising from the flight and the events that followed.
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