Actress Selma Blair was arrested following a disruptive Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York. She currently faces both state and federal assault charges after allegedly attacking crew members and healthcare workers at JFK International Airport and a Queens hospital.
Delta Flight 938 and the Report of Bite Marks
The incident began aboard Delta Flight 938, where the pilot informed air traffic control that a passenger had caused a chaotic scene. According to the report, the pilot requested medical personnel at the gate to treat a bloody nose and bite marks,noting that the passenger appeared to have struck her head against the aircraft's bulkhead. While Delta Air Lines stated it has zero tolerance for unruly behavior, the airline and the FBI have not yet disclosed the full details of the in-flight struggle.
The Assaults on Officer Maria Suarez and Nurse Ashley DeLeo
The violence reportedly escalated after the plane landed at JFK Terminal 4. as reported in the source, Port Authority police officer Maria Suarez was allegedly kicked repeatedly in the face, neck, and chest after Selma Blair removed her leg from stretcher straps at the B22 exit ramp. Officer Suarez suffered jaw swelling and substantial pain as a result of the encounter.
The aggression continued hours later at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. A criminal court affidavit filed in Queens Criminal Court alleges that at approximately 2 a.m. eT on Oct. 12 , registered nurse Ashley DeLeo was kicked in the chest by Selma Blair while assisting with her transport. this second attack caused substantial pain to the nurse, contributing to the two counts of second-degree assault for which the actress was arraigned.
Missed MS Medication and the Claim of Severe Disorientation
Defense attorney Shawn Barnes has argued that the events were not an intentional assault but the result of a medical crisis. Barnes stated in court that Selma Blair, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2018, had missed several doses of a powerful medication used to manage severe neurological symptoms. The defense claims that a combination of a heavy workload, a fall during the flight, and the effects of altitude left the 54-year-old actress in a state of severe disorientation.
A 2016 Flight Blackout and the Fight for Disability Rights
This incident echoes a 2016 event where Selma Blair apologized for regrettable statements made during a flight from Cancun to Los Angeles, which she attributed to a blackout caused by mixing alcohol and medication. Since her 2018 MS diagnosis, however, Blair has become a prominent voice for disability rights , even joining President Joe Biden at the White House in 2023 to mark the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The legal stakes are now high for the actress,who appeared in court in handcuffs and tears. Judge Indira Kahn set her bail at $20,000 cash or a $60,000 bond, with the next hearing scheduled for January.
What Federal Charges Await Blair in Brooklyn's Petty Violations Court?
While the state charges are being handled in Queens, a federal law enforcement official told the Associated Press that the FBI has issued a separate notice charging Selma Blair with assault for her actions aboard the aircraft. it remains unclear exactly what specific actions on the plane triggered federal intervention versus state charges. Furthermore, the public has yet to see the FBI's evidence or a set date for her appearance in the Brooklyn petty violations court.
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