In Queens Criminal Court on Monday, the actress Selma Blair pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault after her arrest at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The court set bail at $20,000 cash, with a $60,000 bond and a $60,000 partially secured bond as alternatives, which Blair posted before being released. She is pending a Jan. 19, 2027, court date.
Blair, 54, appeared in court after Port Authority police took her into custody late Sunday, Oct. 11, when Delta Air Lines Flight 938 from Los Angeles arrived at JFK. Police said they responded to a report of a physically abusive passenger.
According to court evidence, the actress punched one flight attendant, bit another, and tried to open the airplane door mid-flight, and that after landing she kicked a Port Authority officer in the face, neck, and chest while secured to a stretcher and kicked a nurse in the chest at the hospital. Two flight attendants reported injuries, one taken to a hospital.
Police took Blair to a hospital for evaluation and the FBI is investigating.
The FBI brought a separate case, which is distinct from her current court appearance charges. The FBI issued a violation notice alleging assault within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States related to the alleged conduct aboard the aircraft.
In court, Blair’s attorney Shawn Barnes entered not-guilty pleas on Blair’s behalf and argued the alleged conduct was not intentional.
Barnes told the court that Blair had missed doses of her multiple sclerosis medication, and that she had suffered a fall and head injury, also citing her working long hours, and said she experienced confusion and disorientation at altitude.
A representative for Blair separately said in a statement to TMZ that a medical emergency led to the alleged conduct and that Blair received immediate medical attention after landing and is in stable condition.
