Actress Selma Blair was arrested at JFK Airport following an incident on Delta Flight 938 from Los Angeles to New York. She is charged with assaulting two flight attendants, a Port Authority police officer, and a nurse.
The assault on Officer Maria Suarez at JFK Terminal 4
The legal proceedings against Selma Blair center on a series of physical altercations that began late Sunday night. According to a criminal court affidavit filed in Queens Criminal Court, Port Authority Police Officer Maria Suarez was helping secure Selma Blair on a stretcher at the JFK Terminal 4 B22 exit ramp around 11 p.m. ET when the actress allegedly kicked the officer repeatedly in the face, neck, and chest. Officer Maria Suarez was subsequently treated at a local Queens-area hospital for substantial pain and swelling to her jaw.
The violence reportedly continued into the early hours of October 12. As reported in the same court document, registered nurse Ashley DeLeo was assisting in transporting Selma Blair to Jamaica Hospital Medical Center at approximately 2 a.m. ET when the actress allegedly kicked Nurse DeLeo in the chest. This sequence of events led Judge Indira Kahn to set bail at $20,000 cash or a $60,000 bond, noting that Selma Blair posed a danger.
The neurological symptoms cited by attorney Shawn Barnes
The defense for Selma Blair argues that the incident was a medical crisis rather than a criminal act. Attorney Shawn Barnes stated in court that Selma Blair had missed doses of a powerful medication used to manage severe neurological symptoms associated with Multiple Sclerosis, a condition she was diagnosed with in 2018. Barnes further claimed that Selma Blair had been working extensive hours prior to the flight and had suffered a fall where she hit her head during the journey.
This medical defense attempts to frame the behavior as an involuntary reaction to a health emergency. A representative for Selma Blair told the Associated Press that the actress received immediate medical attention upon landing and is currently in stable condition,reinforcing the claim that the alleged assaults were the result of a medical emergency.
A recurring pattern since the 2016 Cancun flight
This incident is not the first time Selma Blair has faced difficulties during air travel. In 2016, Selma Blair apologized for her behavior on a flight from Cancun to Los Angeles, admitting that a mixture of alcohol and medication had caused her to black out. While the current charges are more severe, the previous incident establishes a history of medication-related volatility during flights.
The current legal battle stands in stark contrast to Selma Blair's public role as a disability rights advocate. In 2023, Selma Blair joined President Joe Biden at the White House to commemorate the anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.. this duality highlights the complex intersection between chronic illness management and the strict safety protocols enforced by carriers like Delta Air Lines, which stated it has "zero tolerance" for unruly behavior.
The FBI's pending Brooklyn court proceedings
While the state charges are being handled in Queens, Selma Blair also faces federal scrutiny. A federal law enforcement official reported that the FBI has issued a notice charging Selma Blair with assault related to her actions aboard the aircraft. These specific federal charges will be adjudicated through the petty violations court in federal court in Brooklyn, though no date has been set for her appeearance.
Significant gaps remain in the public record regarding the actual events inside the cabin. Despite the detailed reports of what happened after landing, Delta Air Lines, the Port Authority police, and the FBI have not disclosed the specific details of the conduct that occurred during the flight itself. It remains unclear what triggered the initial unrest on Delta Flight 938 or how the crew attempted to manage the situation before the plane reached the gate .
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