Following reports that Selma Blair is facing charges over an alleged altercation onboard a Delta flight, the actress’s lawyer has shared new details about the incident, claiming she experienced a “medical emergency”. The Legally Blonde actress, 54, was arrested on Sunday, October 11, after allegedly punching one flight attendant, biting another and attempting to open the plane door while travelling from Los Angeles to New York on a commercial flight. Police met the plane when it landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport, before Blair was taken to hospital for medical evaluation. She allegedly kicked a Port Authority police officer in the head and was later accused of assaulting a nurse at the hospital. Blair appeared in court on Monday, where she pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault relating to the officer and nurse. The alleged onboard assaults are being investigated separately by federal authorities. Selma Blair’s lawyer reveals alleged ‘medical emergency’ During the hearing, which led to the actress being released from custody on $20,000 bail, Blair’s attorney Shawn Barnes told the court that she was in the throes of a “medical emergency” at the time of the alleged altercation. Actress Selma Blair was seen leaving Queens Criminal Court following her arraignment on Monday. She was arrested after allegedly biting a flight attendant on board a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday night.… pic.twitter.com/9YnSkQKPIM — CBS News (@CBSNews) October 13, 2026 According to the New York Post, Barnes noted that Blair lives with multiple sclerosis and had “missed several doses of… a powerful medication that controls severe neurological symptoms.” He also said she boarded the flight “after being on set and working extensive hours and exhaustive hours in the days leading up to it,” adding: “Additionally, at one point, during the flight, there was an incident where Miss Blair actually fell and hit her head.” “These factors, coupled with the altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation,” Barnes told the judge. The lawyer also said Blair had been diagnosed with Parkinsonism – a term for a group of neurological symptoms that resemble those of Parkinson’s disease – in addition to the multiple sclerosis diagnosis she publicly disclosed in 2018. “We do not believe, your honour, that this is an intentional assault,” Barnes said, according to CNN’s reporting of the court hearing. Flight audio reveals what pilot said before Selma Blair’s arrest Audio from air traffic control has also shed light on what was being reported onboard the Delta flight before it landed in New York. 🚨 Selma Blair allegedly caused chaos aboard a Delta Airlines flight — punching one flight attendant and biting another after trying to open the plane's door in the middle of the flight. pic.twitter.com/YnfqQEjRsN — TMZ (@TMZ) October 12, 2026 “Ah, a bloody nose as well as some bite marks as well, so I don’t think we need an ambulance or anything like that but if we could get some medical personnel at the gate, to look at their injuries,” the pilot said in the audio. “It sounds like the disruptive passenger also bashed her head on the bulkhead or something like that, so we’ll obviously have to get her potentially checked out as well as law enforcement.” The Port Authority confirmed that two flight attendants reported injuries, with one taken to hospital for further assessment. Law enforcement sources also said (via CBS) that Blair tried to open one of the cabin doors and had to be restrained for the rest of the journey. Once on land, Blair allegedly freed one of her legs from the straps of a stretcher as she was being prepared for transport to hospital, before repeatedly kicking a Port Authority police officer in the face, neck and chest. She’s also accused of kicking a nurse in the chest at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in the early hours of Monday morning, while being moved for further treatment. How long the actress could face in prison if convicted Blair could face between two and seven years in prison if convicted of the state’s assault charges brought against her. The actress has pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault in New York. Her next appearance in Queens Criminal Court is scheduled for January 19, 2027. The actress is also facing a separate federal case over the alleged assaults on flight attendants. The FBI issued her a violation notice for assault within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. According to NBC New York, the federal violation could carry a sentence of up to one year in prison, although such cases are typically resolved with penalties such as fines or counselling. The federal matter will be handled by the petty violations court in Brooklyn, but a date for Blair’s appearance has not yet been set. Featured image credit: Rob Latour/Shutterstock Post navigation Next story
