Full Breakdown
Selma Blair Pleads Not Guilty to Assault Charges After Turbulent Flight Incident
By Drooid · · How we work
Arraignment and Charges
The 54-year-old actress was arraigned on a Monday night in Queens County, entering not-guilty pleas to two counts of second-degree assault. The charges stem from alleged assaults on a Port Authority police officer and a nurse after the aircraft landed at John F. Kennedy Airport. According to the criminal filing, the officer sustained a swollen jaw and facial pain, while the nurse was kicked in the chest at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center.
Incident Overview
The episode occurred on Delta flight 938, traveling from Los Angeles to New York. The pilot reported that the disruptive passenger struck her head against the aircraft wall. After landing, police and medical personnel attempted to restrain Blair; she allegedly freed a leg from the stretcher and repeatedly kicked the officer and later a nurse. The judge set bail at $20,000 cash, a $60,000 bond, or a $60,000 partially secured bond.
Defense Cites Health and Medication
Blair’s attorneys, Shawn Barnes and Joshua Reitzas, argued that missed doses of a powerful medication for multiple sclerosis, combined with exhaustion from recent filming work and the altitude, caused severe confusion and disorientation. They urged the court to consider Blair’s reputation and contributions to the entertainment industry when determining any further penalties.
Official Responses
A Delta spokesperson told reporters that the airline enforces a zero-tolerance policy for unruly behavior and that the incident caused no operational impact on the flight. The FBI, adhering to Justice Department policy, declined to comment on the ongoing investigation of the alleged in-flight assault. Judge Indira Khan reminded the courtroom that celebrity status should not influence the legal process.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Ms. Blair missed several doses of … a powerful medication that controls severe neurological symptoms,” — Shawn Barnes
- “These factors coupled with the altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation,” — Shawn Barnes
- “Consider her body of work and what she’s done for people,” — Joshua Reitzas