Actress Selma Blair was arrested and arraigned on two counts of second-degree assault after allegedly assaulting a Port Authority police officer and a nurse following a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York City. Her attorneys stated the alleged conduct was due to a medical emergency, citing missed medication doses and a head injury sustained on the flight.
The case highlights the legal and personal consequences celebrities can face for alleged disruptive behavior, even when attributed to medical issues.
Actress Selma Blair was arrested and arraigned on two counts of second-degree assault following a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York City. She is accused of kicking a Port Authority police officer and later a nurse at a hospital after being removed from the plane.
According to a court document, Blair freed her leg from stretcher straps and repeatedly kicked the Port Authority officer about the face, neck, and chest while being moved from John F. Kennedy International Airport. Once at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, prosecutors allege that she also kicked a nurse in the chest.
Blair's attorneys argued in court that the alleged conduct was due to a medical emergency, stating she had missed medication doses and fell, hitting her head on the flight. They do not believe the assault was intentional.
Bail was set at $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond, and the case was adjourned until January 19. A prosecutor indicated that if convicted on the top count, Blair faces two to seven years in jail.
A representative for Blair confirmed she experienced a medical emergency leading to the alleged conduct and is in stable condition. Blair publicly disclosed her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2018.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a "passenger disturbance" on the flight, and the FBI was contacted regarding a "potential assault aboard a flight." Delta Air Lines stated it has "zero tolerance" for unlawful behavior.
Pick the topics you care about. Get only what matters, on your cadence.