Representatives for actor Selma Blair issued a statement on Friday, October 16, 2026, stating that she did not intend to harm anyone during a flight and its aftermath where she is accused of assaulting four people. The statement attributed the events to a medical emergency related to Blair’s health conditions and disputed what it described as inaccurate portrayals of the incident.
The incident occurred Sunday, October 11, on a Delta flight traveling from Los Angeles to New York. Following the flight’s arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Blair was arrested. She pleaded not guilty on Monday, October 12, to two counts of assault on state charges and is currently free on bail.
According to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Blair was accused of injuring two flight attendants on the plane, kicking a police officer during transport to a hospital, and kicking a nurse upon arrival. A federal law enforcement official told The Associated Press that the FBI has also issued Blair a notice charging her with assault for actions aboard the aircraft. Air traffic communications recorded the pilot requesting medical personnel at the gate for "bite marks and a bloody nose," though the pilot stated ambulances were not required.
Blair’s representatives stated that the 54-year-old actor, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2018, also has pseudobulbar affect, a neurological condition secondary to MS. The statement noted that these conditions influence how a medical episode appears to observers and mentioned that authorities took Blair's service dog from her during the incident. Her representatives also denied reports that there was an attempt to open the aircraft door.
For the public and other travelers, the case highlights the intersection of federal aviation law and medical emergencies. The FBI’s involvement, through a notice charging assault on an aircraft, demonstrates the federal jurisdiction over conduct during flights. The specific impact on Blair’s daily life includes the current separation from her service dog, which her representatives stated "doesn't leave her side." The concrete changes to her legal rights include the restrictions imposed by the protective order and the requirements of her bail.
The case also involves how neurological conditions like MS and pseudobulbar affect are presented in assault cases involving transportation staff and emergency responders. The next scheduled step in the legal process is a court date in January 2027. Until then, the full details of the encounter aboard the aircraft remain limited to the information released by the Port Authority and the anonymous federal official.