Selma Blair faces potential prison sentence as she's released on $20K bail after alleged inflight assault
Selma Blair has been arraigned on two counts of assault following an incident onboard a Delta Airlines flight.
The 54-year-old star was arrested and taken to hospital on Sunday (11 October) night after she allegedly injured two flight attendants on a plane from Los Angeles to New York.
The Cruel Intentions star was detained by police at around 11pm after the Delta Air Lines jet parked at the gate at John F Kennedy International Airport, according to a statement from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The Port Authority said that a flight attendant was also taken to hospital.
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Blair has now attended a court appearance in Queens, where she was arraigned on two counts of second-degree assault.
The judge set her bail at $20,000 (£15,141) cash or $60,000 dollars (£45,425) bond and set the next hearing for 19 January 2027.
Images from the arraignment obtained by Page Six show the actress becoming tearful in court.
Blair was represented in court by Shawn Barnes and Joshua Reitzas.
Barnes told Judge Indira Khan that Blair had missed her medication, which is used to treat her multiple sclerosis, and had also fallen and hit her head.
He also said his client had been working ‘extensive hours and exhaustive hours’ prior to the flight.
“These factors coupled with the altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation,” Barnes said, according to Page Six.
“This was not an intentional assault,” he continued.
Reitzas, who could be seen wiping away Blair’s tears, highlighted Blair’s body of work to the judge.
The judge replied: “Ms. Blair should not get special treatment because she is a celebrity.”
According to New York sentencing guidelines, Blair could face up to seven years in jail if she’s convicted.
A representative for Blair previously told The Associated Press that the actor had a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct.
The statement read: "Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct.
"Upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition."
When contacted by LADbible, a rep said they had ‘no comment at this time’.
The FBI has also issued Blair a notice charging her with assault, according to a federal law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
In a statement shared with the Daily Mail, an FBI spokesperson said: “The FBI is responsible for investigating all assaults aboard aircraft.
“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.”
It’s not the first time Blair has had issues aboard a plane.
In 2016, the actress apologised for making statements she later regretted during a flight from Cancun to Los Angeles.
She said she had mixed alcohol with medication, causing her to black out.
“I made a big mistake yesterday. After a lovely trip with my son and his Dad, I mixed alcohol with medication, and that caused me to black out and led me to say and do things that I deeply regret,' she said in a statement to Vanity Fair at the time.
“My son was with his Dad asleep with his headphones on, so there is that saving grace. I take this very seriously, and I apologise to all of the passengers and crew that I disturbed and am thankful to all of the people who helped me in the aftermath.
“I am a flawed human being who makes mistakes and am filled with shame over this incident. I am truly very sorry.”
Blair has had a lengthy career with roles in films including Cruel Intentions, Legally Blonde and Hellboy.
In recent years, she has advocated for disability rights and she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018.
Claire Reid