Selma Blair Accused of Biting Flight Attendant; Lawyers Blame Missed Medication and Head Injury

Selma Blair's lawyers say missed medication and a head injury left her severely confused during a flight on which she allegedly bit one attendant and punched another.

The 54-year-old actress pleaded not guilty on Monday, 12 October, to two counts of second-degree assault following her arrest at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport the previous evening. Those state charges concern alleged attacks on a police officer and a nurse after landing.

Blair was subsequently released on bail. Her legal team disputes that the alleged assaults were intentional.

Lawyers Cite Missed Doses and a Fall

At her Queens arraignment, lawyer Shawn Barnes said Blair had missed several doses of medication used to control severe neurological symptoms, according to the New York Post's court reporting. He also said she had worked exhausting hours before travelling and had fallen and struck her head during the flight.

'These factors, coupled with the altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation,' Barnes said. 'This was not an intentional assault,' he added.

The explanation represents the defence's account, rather than a finding by the court about what caused the incident. Blair's representative separately said she had experienced a medical emergency, received immediate treatment after landing and was in a stable condition.

Police Respond to Flight 938

Port Authority police were called at about 11pm on Sunday, 11 October, after Delta Flight 938 from Los Angeles parked at its gate at JFK.

Authorities said two flight attendants were injured, with one taken to hospital for evaluation. Blair was also transported to hospital after being taken into custody.

Before landing, the pilots told air traffic controllers that one person had a bloody nose and another had bite marks. They requested medical personnel at the gate, according to ABC News.

Delta said the aircraft arrived ahead of schedule and the incident caused no operational disruption to the flight. The airline reiterated that passenger and crew safety came first and that it did not tolerate unlawful or unruly behaviour.

Separate Allegations After Landing

According to the criminal complaint described by the Associated Press, an officer securing Blair to a stretcher alleged that the actress freed a leg from its straps and repeatedly kicked her around the face, neck and chest. The officer reported pain and swelling.

A nurse at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center separately alleged that Blair kicked her in the chest while she was assisting her, causing substantial pain.

Those incidents form the basis of the two state assault counts. They are separate from the allegations involving the cabin crew.

According to reports, Blair received a federal violation notice on Monday concerning alleged assault within US special maritime and territorial jurisdiction. No federal appearance date was listed in that report. A judge set bail at $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond (£15,100 and £45,300 respectively). Blair's next appearance on the state charges is scheduled for 19 January 2027.

The actress, whose credits include Cruel Intentions and Hellboy, has spoken publicly about her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2018. Her diagnosis alone does not establish what happened on the aircraft or explain the alleged conduct.

Blair has pleaded not guilty to the state charges. The allegations remain to be tested in court.