Actor Selma Blair accused of kicking officer and nurse after assaults on flight

Selma Blair has been arrested after she allegedly attacked two cabin crew on a flight, then kicked a police officer and a nurse after landing.

The actor appeared in court on Monday after the alleged attack on a flight from Los Angeles to New York that arrived at John F Kennedy Airport in New York.

Blair was charged with assaulting two flight attendants and separately faces two charges of assaulting an officer while being taken to hospital and a nurse once she arrived.

The Legally Blond star, 54, was detained by police at around 11pm on Sunday after she got off the Delta Air Lines jet, the port authority of New York and New Jersey said.

Airport officials added they responded to a call about "a physically abusive passenger" on the flight to JFK.

Several US news outlets reported that Blair allegedly punched a flight attendant, bit another and tried to open the airplane door.

Blair and one of the flight attendants were taken to hospital, the port authority added.

Court documents claim a police officer taking her to Jamaica Hospital Medical Centre alleged that while she was securing Blair to a stretcher, Blair pulled a leg from the straps and kicked her repeatedly around the face, neck and chest, causing serious pain and substantial swelling.

A nurse who was moving Blair in hospital alleged the actor then kicked her in the chest, causing "substantial" pain.

She pleaded not guilty on Monday night to two counts of assault for state charges involving the officer and the nurse.

A judge set Blair's bail at $20,000 cash or $60,000 bond and set the next hearing for January. Blair then left court with her lawyers.

The actor also faces separate federal charges after the altercation on the flight, which will be handled through the "petty violations" court in federal court in Brooklyn. The date for Blair's appearance has not yet been set.

Shawn Barnes, one of Blair's lawyers, said the incident was due to a medical emergency, and that she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and Parkinsonism, which combined with hitting her head during the flight caused "a state of severe confusion and disorientation".

He also claimed she had a heavy workload and that before the flight, she missed several doses of her medication.

"We do not believe that this is an intentional assault," Barnes said on Monday at a court in Queens.

Blair was wearing jeans, sunglasses and a white hoodie, and appeared to cry during a part of the hearing as she stood in handcuffs.

A prosecutor said in court that if convicted of the highest charge, she could face up to seven years in jail.

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According to a recording of air traffic control audio from the flight, published by Sky's US partner network NBC News, the pilot said "one flight attendant and one passenger...sustained some minor injuries - a bloody nose as well as some bite marks.

"I don't think we need an ambulance or anything like that, but we just want to get some medical personnel at the gate to look at their injuries."

A Delta spokesperson said the airline "has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behaviour, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first", though details of what happened aboard the plane weren't immediately disclosed by the airline, police or the FBI, which investigates incidents on planes.

Blair has had major film roles including Cruel Intentions in 1999, Legally Blonde on 2001 and Hellboy three years later.

(c) Sky News 2026: Actor Selma Blair accused of kicking officer and nurse after assaults on flight