Selma Blair held in New York over alleged flight assault

Actor Selma Blair was taken into custody in New York after an alleged in-flight altercation, authorities said Monday. Police detained her after two flight attendants were hurt on a trip from Los Angeles.

The incident occurred on a Delta Air Lines plane. Police took Blair, 54, into custody late Sunday.

The plane was parked at the gate at John F. Kennedy Airport. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey released the details in a statement. Details about any formal charges were not released.

Blair was physically abusive during the journey, authorities said. Blair and one attendant went to a hospital for evaluation.

Delta Air Lines did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Messages to state and federal prosecutors were not returned. A message left with Blair’s publicist was not answered.

A representative for Blair gave a statement to media outlets. The representative said Blair had a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct.

The FBI declined to release details about the event. Sydney Kleinmann, a spokesperson for the FBI NY, discussed the case.

Yesterday, we were informed by our partners at Port Authority Police Department of a potential assault aboard a flight that arrived into JFK. As per long-standing DOJ policy, we do not comment on ongoing investigations.

Blair starred in “Cruel Intentions” in 1999. She acted in “Legally Blonde” in 2001 and “Hellboy” in 2004.

She was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018. Blair later became an advocate for disability rights. In 2023, she joined President Joe Biden at the White House to celebrate the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Blair had another plane incident in 2016. She apologized for statements made on a flight from Cancun to Los Angeles. She said she mixed alcohol with medication and blacked out.

The FBI handles investigations of assaults aboard aircraft in the United States. Federal jurisdiction applies to commercial passenger cabins while planes are in flight. Local port police manage gate security at New York airports.

Delta Air Lines operates regular service between California and New York. No further information was released Monday.