Selma Blair Gets Emotional During Court Appearance After Alleged Attacks on Airplane Crew, Police and Hospital NurseBecca Longmire, Tommy McArdleTue, October 13, 2026 at 12:50 PM UTC
The actress was arrested and charged with assault after she allegedly physically attacked a nurse and a police officer on Monday, Oct. 12
Selma Blair appeared before a judge in Queens on Monday, Oct. 12 following her arrest at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport just after 11 p.m. local time on Sunday, Oct. 11
Blair allegedly punched a flight attendant and bit another flight crew member during a Delta Airlines flight, before allegedly assaulting a nurse and a police officer
A rep for the actress told PEOPLE on Oct. 12 that Blair “experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct”
Selma Blair got emotional in court as she appeared before a judge in Queens on Monday, Oct. 12 on charges of assaulting a nurse and a police officer.
The Port Authority Police officer involved in the incident “sustained swelling to the face” and “substantial pain to the arm,” per a video posted by NBC 4 New York.
It was revealed in court that Blair, 54, had allegedly kicked the officer in the face, the neck, and the chest while he was on active duty, before kicking a nurse in the chest after being transported to the hospital for treatment.
Selma Blair on Sept. 23, 2026Credit: River Callaway/Variety via Getty
Blair was seen in the clip tearfully appearing in court, before she was later released on bail. She pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault after being taken from the hospital to Queens Central Booking, per the BBC.
The actress was arraigned on Oct. 12, before Judge Indira Kahn, who set bail at $20,000 cash, $60,000 bond or a $60,000 partially secured bond, according to court records. Blair was released on bail that evening.
PEOPLE previously confirmed that the officer involved was Port Authority Police Officer Maria Suarez. Blair is accused of kicking her repeatedly in the face, neck and chest, according to a criminal court affidavit sworn by Port Authority Police Officer Dynosoph Telisma. Suarez experienced swelling to her jaw and substantial pain to her face, neck and chest, the affidavit alleged.
The alleged assault on the registered nurse occurred at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center at approximately 2 a.m. on Oct. 12, while she was assisting with Blair’s transport for further medical treatment. The nurse has been identified as Ashley DeLeo, per ABC7 New York.
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DeLeo reported substantial pain in her chest, according to the affidavit PEOPLE previously reported. The nurse was granted an order of protection.
The appearance came after Blair was arrested at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport after she allegedly punched a flight attendant and bit another flight crew member during a Delta Airlines flight on Oct. 12.
Selma Blair on Oct. 11, 2025Credit: Savion Washington/Getty
TMZ first reported on Oct. 12 that the Cruel Intentions actress had been flying to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Sunday, Oct. 11, when the altercation with crew onboard occurred. New York Port Authority said two flight attendants reported injuries sustained during the incident and one was taken to the hospital. Blair was arrested just after 11 p.m. local time on Sunday, Oct. 11, and taken to a hospital for evaluation.
“Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct. Upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition,” a representative for Blair told PEOPLE in a statement on Oct. 12.
Selma Blair on Sept. 23, 2026Credit: Amy Sussman/Getty
“Delta has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first,” an airline spokesperson told PEOPLE that day. The airline added that there was no operational impact to the flight, which arrived ahead of schedule in N.Y.C. after taking off from Los Angeles earlier in the day. Delta confirmed law enforcement responded upon the flight’s arrival.
Dispatch audio obtained by PEOPLE on Oct. 12 indicated that emergency responders asked for medical personnel to meet two flight attendants and a passenger at the gate following the plane’s arrival in N.Y.C.“From the info I’ve got, sounds like there were two, yeah, one flight attendant and one passenger that sustained some minor injuries, a bloody nose as well as some bite marks as well,” one responder could be heard saying over dispatch audio. “So I don’t think [we] need an ambulance or anything like that, but we [could get] some medical personnel at the gate to look at their injuries.”After another responder confirmed that paramedics were approaching the gate and that law enforcement had already arrived, the dispatcher added, “And then one additional add-on, it sounds like the disruptive passenger also bashed her head on the bulkhead or something like that.”
A spokesperson for the FBI confirmed the agency was currently investigating the incident.
Blair was released on bond hours after the incident. She was arraigned on two counts of assault after being accused of kicking a police officer repeatedly and a nurse in the chest, according to a criminal court affidavit previously obtained by PEOPLE.
A source previously told PEOPLE that Blair was set to face charges in both New York state and federal court. As well as facing two assault charges in criminal court in Queens, she’s also expected to face her federal charges in petty violations court in Brooklyn, sources said.
Selma Blair on Oct. 11, 2025Credit: Savion Washington/Getty
Blair, who was diagnosed with the chronic autoimmune disease MS in 2018, was expected to appear at the upcoming 90s Con in Hartford, Conn., which runs Friday, Oct. 16 through Sunday, Oct. 18.
The actress shared a series of photos of herself and her service dog Scout on Instagram on Oct. 11, indicating that she had been traveling a lot recently. “From LA to New Mexico to La to nyc to LA Scout and I have been busy. I miss you,” she wrote.
Scout had been with the star at the time of the alleged incident onboard the Delta plane on Oct. 11, a source told PEOPLE.
Source: Entertainment
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