A tearful Selma Blair pleaded not guilty in a NYC courtroom Monday following her arrest a day earlier at JFK over an in-flight meltdown in which she allegedly bit a flight attendant before assaulting a nurse and a police officer as she was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The episode began to unfold about 11 pm. Sunday, when law enforcement was called to John F. Kennedy International Airport to address a “physically abusive passenger” aboard Delta Airlines flight 938, which had taxied to the gate after flying in from Los Angeles.
Two flight attendants were injured, and one of them was evaluated at a hospital, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey told the Daily News, identifying Blair, 54, as the passenger in question. One flight attendant had bite marks and another had a laceration, according to law enforcement sources.
During her appearance at Queens Criminal Court Monday evening, an attorney for Blair said the actress, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, missed several doses of “a powerful medication” that she takes to manage her severe neurological symptoms, and that she struck her head during the flight. He also cited Blair’s heavy work schedule ahead of the flight.
“These factors, coupled with the altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation,” Blair’s lawyer, Shawn Barnes, told the judge at her arraignment.
Another attorney representing the actress wiped tears from Blair’s eyes as she pleaded not guilty to the assault charges for the attacks on the police officer and nurse.
Assistant District Attorney Jared Brady, in seeking bail, noted Blair attacked a police office and a nurse trying to help her. “I do believe that the defendant, striking an officer attempting to bring the defendant into custody is evidence on the intention to flee a prosecution,” Brady said.
She was released after posting bail set at $20,000.
Blair is also facing federal charges for the incident on board the airplane. The FBI issued Blair a District Court Violation Notice to appear at a later date in Brooklyn federal court, where she could face up to a year of prison for the alleged assaults.
Blair, who rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s with appearances in films such as “Cruel Intentions” and “Legally Blonde,” was taken into custody and to a hospital for evaluation after being detained at JFK, the sources said.
But prosecutors said Blair continued her abusive behavior en route to Jamaica Hospital. While in the ambulance, she repeatedly kicked a female police officer in the head, neck and chest, prompting the officer to be evaluated at the hospital as well. The officer suffered severe swelling to her face and pain to her arm, prosecutors said.
Once at the hospital, Blair allegedly assaulted a nurse, named in a criminal complaint as Ashley Deleo.
Deleo was working the night shift when she was attacked, her sister told the Daily News.
“She texted me last night and said she got kicked in the chest by the girl from ‘Legally Blonde,’” her sister, Gina Deleo, recounted.
During Blair’s arraignment, a second attorney for the actress, Joshua Rietzas, interrupted Judge Indira Kahn to demand he waive his client’s bail, citing her “body of work” and lack of arrests prior to Sunday.
“Please don’t interrupt the court,” Judge Kahn told Rietzas. “Because she is a celebrity or because she’s done work in the community, there are many people that have done work in the community that are charged with these crimes. That is reasonable bail for a person that has the means to fly across the world.”
Blair was diagnosed in 2018 with multiple sclerosis and uses a service dog due to mobility and balance issues caused by her illness, which affects the central nervous system. She was traveling with her service dog, who is now with her attorney, sources noted.
The chaos erupted mid-flight when Blair allegedly assaulted at least one flight attendant, according to the audio of a call from the airplane seeking medical attention for two people at the gate posted on Instagram. The audio also indicates the “disruptive passenger” had hit her head against a bulkhead.
Delta told The News that there was “no operational impact to the flight,” which landed ahead of schedule.
“Delta has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first,” the airline told The News in an emailed statement, deferring further comment to local law enforcement.
The actress had a similar meltdown in 2016, also on a Delta flight, and was taken off the plane on a stretcher after exhibiting what was described as bizarre behavior while flying back from Cancun with her son and the boy’s father. She later apologized and blamed it on ill-conceived mixing of alcohol and medication. Six months later, she said she was “recovered” and was “ready to put it behind me.”
