,Selma Blair’s representative says the actress experienced a medical emergency on a Delta flight and denies reports that she tried to open the aircraft door.
“Selma did not intend to harm anyone,” the spokesperson said in an Oct. 16 statement to PEOPLE.
Blair, 54, was traveling from Los Angeles to New York aboard Flight 938 on Oct. 11. Police met the aircraft at John F. Kennedy International Airport, where she was taken into custody and then transported for medical evaluation.
She pleaded not guilty to two counts of second-degree assault in Queens Criminal Court the following day.
Her Representative Says Reports Overlook Her Medical History
Selma Blair Breaks Her Silence on Plane Arrest in Lengthy Statement from Rep: ‘Selma Did Not Intend to Harm Anyone’ (Exclusive) https://t.co/NstidSxuET
— People (@people) October 16, 2026
The spokesperson criticized coverage that relied on initial police information and an airplane incident from a decade earlier, saying speculation had been treated as fact.
Blair publicly disclosed her multiple sclerosis diagnosis in 2018. Her representative said she continues to experience daily pain and difficult days, despite maintaining an active work schedule.
The statement also said Blair has pseudobulbar affect associated with her MS. The condition can cause involuntary laughing or crying that does not match a person’s feelings or circumstances, according to Mayo Clinic.
Her attorney, Shawn Barnes, told the court that she had worked extensive hours, missed several medication doses and fallen and hit her head on the plane. He attributed the episode to exhaustion and a medical crisis, CNN reported.
The representative also said Blair had worked on seven film and television projects in 2026, with only a couple announced, while continuing her disability advocacy.
Scout Was Placed With Blair’s Defense Attorney
Blair’s spokesperson said authorities separated her from Scout, the service dog who was traveling with her. A Queens Criminal Court clerk told PEOPLE on Oct. 12 that the English Labrador was in the care of her defense attorney.
Blair welcomed Scout in December 2021 after her neurologist recommended considering a service dog. In an earlier interview, she explained that he helps her stand and regain her balance when muscle spasms or mobility difficulties interrupt her movement.
On the day of the flight, Blair had shared an Instagram video documenting recent trips with Scout between Los Angeles, New Mexico and New York.
Two Flight Attendants Reported Injuries
Port Authority police said two flight attendants reported injuries and one was taken to a hospital. A law enforcement official told CNN that one attendant was bitten and another sustained cuts.
Air traffic control recordings captured a request for medical personnel to meet the flight. A later transmission mentioned a bloody nose and bite marks without clearly identifying who had each injury.
Delta said the aircraft arrived ahead of schedule and that the incident caused no operational disruption. The airline reiterated its policy against unruly or unlawful behavior.
The Queens Charges Concern Alleged Assaults After Landing
According to the criminal complaint obtained by ABC News, Port Authority officer Maria Suarez alleged that Blair repeatedly kicked her in the face, neck and chest while she was helping transport the actress to an ambulance. Suarez reported jaw swelling and substantial pain.
At Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, registered nurse Ashley DeLeo alleged that Blair kicked her in the chest while she was assisting with treatment. DeLeo reported substantial chest pain and was granted an order of protection.
Judge Indira Khan set bail at $20,000 cash, $60,000 bond or a $60,000 partially secured bond. Blair was released that evening, and her next Queens court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 19, 2027.
ABC reported that Blair received a federal violation notice concerning alleged assaults aboard the aircraft, citing a source familiar with the summons. The summons directs her to federal petty violations court in Brooklyn. The FBI and Federal Aviation Administration have confirmed investigations.
Blair Attended 90s Con on Friday
Blair appeared at the Hartford, Connecticut, convention on Oct. 16, meeting fans and posing for photographs at a signing booth. Before her arrest, organizers announced that she would spend additional time meeting fans at her table instead of participating in a question-and-answer panel, Entertainment Weekly reported.