UPDATE: Selma Blair is now facing a separate federal case stemming from her alleged assaults on two flight attendants aboard a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York. According to federal law enforcement sources, the FBI issued the actress a summons, known as a violation notice, alleging “assault within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States.” The matter will be handled in federal petty violations court in Brooklyn (EDNY), although no appearance date has been set.
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Selma Blair’s latest trip from Los Angeles to New York came with some unexpected baggage…including criminal charges in two separate jurisdictions.
The 54-year-old actress is facing two felony assault charges in New York and a separate federal assault allegation following an alleged midair meltdown aboard a Delta flight. Authorities say Blair punched one flight attendant and bit another before allegedly assaulting a police officer and a nurse after landing at JFK Airport.
Credit: Courts.State.NYBlair was taken into custody Sunday night after Delta Flight 938 landed at John F. Kennedy International Airport. The actress allegedly attempted to open an aircraft door during the flight, punched one flight attendant and bit another.
Both flight attendants reported injuries, and one was transported to a hospital for further evaluation. Air traffic control recordings captured the pilot requesting medical personnel at the gate to treat injuries that included bite marks and a bloody nose. The pilot also reported that Blair appeared to have struck her head against part of the aircraft.
Port Authority police arrested Blair shortly after 11 p.m. and arranged for her to be transported to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center for evaluation.
According to the criminal complaint, Blair allegedly freed one leg from the restraints of a stretcher and repeatedly kicked Port Authority Police Officer Maria Suarez in the face, neck and chest. Suarez reported substantial pain and swelling around her jaw.
The complaint further alleges that Blair kicked registered nurse Ashley DeLeo in the chest around 2 a.m. Monday while DeLeo was assisting with her medical treatment. The nurse reported substantial pain and was subsequently granted an order of protection.
Blair was arraigned Monday night in Queens Criminal Court on two counts of second-degree assault, both felonies. She pleaded not guilty.
Judge Indira Kahn set bail at $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond. Blair was released Monday evening. Variety reported that the actress used a credit card to post bail, although its reported payment amount differs from the bail figures listed in other accounts of the court proceedings.
Credit: Courts.State.NYHer next state court appearance is scheduled for January 19, 2027.
Blair also faces a separate federal matter stemming from the alleged assaults aboard the aircraft. According to the Associated Press, the FBI issued a violation notice accusing her of assault within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States. The federal allegations are expected to be handled in petty violations court in Brooklyn. No appearance date has been announced.
Blair’s attorney, Shawn Barnes, told the court that the actress’s behavior was not intentional and resulted from a medical emergency. Barnes said Blair had missed several doses of medication prescribed to control severe neurological symptoms. He also cited exhaustion following a demanding work schedule, a head injury sustained during the flight and the effects of altitude as contributing factors to what he described as severe confusion and disorientation.
Blair publicly disclosed her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2018 and announced in 2021 that the disease was in remission. She has since become an advocate for people living with disabilities, frequently discussing the physical and emotional challenges associated with the condition.
The actress has also spoken extensively about difficulties she experiences while traveling, particularly when symptoms are mistaken for intoxication or disruptive behavior.
During a July 2025 appearance at Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Summit in New York, Blair said she experiences dystonia and muscle spasticity that can affect her movements and speech, sometimes leading strangers to assume she is drunk. She described airports as particularly stressful environments and said she has experienced temporary vision loss, fainting and difficulty communicating while traveling.
Blair also said airport personnel have questioned her behavior and, on occasion, threatened to involve police when she appeared unable to speak or move normally.
In a separate February 2025 interview with Travel + Leisure, Blair explained that she travels with a cane and her service dog, Scout, partly to help others recognize that she has a disability. She said she worried that losing her balance in public could cause bystanders to also mistakenly believe she was intoxicated and call emergency services.
Scout was reportedly traveling with Blair during Sunday’s incident and was subsequently placed in her attorney’s custody.
The latest allegations have also drawn attention to Blair’s 2022 memoir, Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up, which includes a chapter titled “Bite Me.” In the book, Blair recounts several occasions when she bit fellow celebrities during social encounters, including actors Sienna Miller and Seth MacFarlane and supermodel Kate Moss.
Blair described biting Miller’s arm during an encounter at the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles shortly after her 2006 divorce from musician Ahmet Zappa. She wrote that she felt overwhelmed by Miller’s presence and impulsively bit her forearm in what she intended as a playful gesture.
She also recalled biting MacFarlane’s hand after being introduced to him during a night out. Blair wrote that she was starstruck and uncomfortable in the social setting. MacFarlane reacted with surprise and told her the bite hurt, although Blair said she did not break his skin.
Another incident involved Moss during a gathering in a London hotel suite following a Marc Jacobs fashion show. Blair wrote that Moss initially laughed when she bit her finger, but reacted angrily when Blair repeated the gesture. According to Blair’s account, Moss responded by biting her thumb, giving the actress a better understanding of how painful her own behavior could be.
Blair attributed the incidents to difficulty navigating social interactions, particularly when she felt overwhelmed. She also acknowledged that alcohol played a role in some of those encounters and expressed regret over her behavior. The memoir also addresses Blair’s history of alcohol dependence, which she said began during childhood. She has publicly stated that she stopped drinking in 2016.
That year, Blair was removed from a flight arriving at Los Angeles International Airport from Cancun, Mexico, after experiencing an episode she later attributed to mixing alcohol with medication. She apologized publicly, saying the combination caused her to black out and behave in ways she regretted.
Blair later described the incident as a turning point in her decision to stop drinking.
The actress, whose credits include Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde and Hellboy, has not been convicted of any offense arising from Sunday’s incident, as she remains innocent until proven guilty. Delta Air Lines said it has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior aboard its aircraft, emphasizing that passenger and crew safety remain its priority.
Blair’s attorney, Shawn Barnes, did not respond to Los Angeles’ request for comment.
The post Selma Blair’s Flight From LA to NY Ends With a Potential Federal Case, Two Felony Charges and a Familiar Controversy appeared first on LAmag.
