Selma Blair Faces Additional Assault Charges After JFK Flight Incident

Legal proceedings against actor Selma Blair expanded after her detention at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, with authorities investigating alleged assaults aboard a Delta Air Lines flight and separate incidents involving a Port Authority police officer and a hospital nurse. The 54-year-old actor was taken into custody late Sunday, October 11, 2026, after the aircraft arrived from Los Angeles, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and multiple news reports.

By Monday, October 12, Blair remained in custody awaiting arraignment on state assault charges involving the officer and nurse, according to electronic court records cited by The Associated Press. She also received a federal violation summons concerning the alleged onboard assault, with no court appearance date announced.

The federal summons concerns alleged conduct aboard the aircraft and directs Blair to appear before the petty violations court in federal court in Brooklyn. A senior law enforcement official told NBC New York that the violation could carry a sentence of up to one year in prison.

According to law enforcement sources cited by NBC New York, Blair allegedly kicked a Port Authority officer repeatedly in the head while being taken for medical evaluation. Sources also alleged that she assaulted a nurse at Jamaica Hospital, where she was transported after the aircraft landed.

Blair's representative attributed the alleged behavior to a medical emergency. The representative provided this statement to ABC News:

"Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct. Upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition."

The representative did not disclose further details about the medical episode. Sources familiar with the case told ABC News that Blair received treatment at Jamaica Hospital.

The incident aboard Delta flight 938 prompted a response from airport police and federal authorities after the aircraft arrived from Los Angeles International Airport. The Port Authority said two flight attendants sustained injuries, and one was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Law enforcement sources told NBC New York that one attendant had a bite mark while the other suffered a cut. According to ABC News, the pilots alerted air traffic controllers before landing that passengers needed medical assistance, describing a bloody nose and bite marks.

Delta said the incident did not disrupt flight operations because the aircraft arrived ahead of schedule. The airline did not publicly identify Blair in its response to NBC News.

"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 to ABC News.

The FBI and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the incident. The FBI confirmed to NBC News that it had been contacted about a potential assault aboard a flight arriving at JFK.

"As per long-standing DOJ policy, we do not comment on ongoing investigations," the FBI told NBC News.

Blair's case also draws attention to a previous in-flight incident in 2016. At the time, she apologized after an episode aboard a flight from Cancun to Los Angeles and said she had mixed alcohol with medication, causing her to black out.

"I made a big mistake yesterday. After a lovely trip with my son and his Dad, I mixed alcohol with medication, and that caused me to black out and led me to say and do things that I deeply regret," Blair said in a statement to Vanity Fair in 2016.

She also expressed remorse for disturbing passengers and crew and thanked those who assisted her after that incident.

"I take this very seriously, and I apologize to all of the passengers and crew that I disturbed and am thankful to all of the people who helped me in the aftermath. I am a flawed human being who makes mistakes and am filled with shame over this incident. I am truly very sorry," Blair said.

Blair discussed the episode again during an appearance on The Talk in October 2016, describing it as a "total psychotic blackout." She said the experience had been frightening and unlike her usual behavior.

Blair disclosed her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2018 and announced in 2021 that her condition was in remission. Her film credits include Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde and Hellboy. The federal summons related to the latest incident had no scheduled appearance date as of Monday, according to reports by ABC News and The Associated Press.