A tearful Selma Blair pleaded not guilty in a NYC courtroom Monday following her arrest a day earlier at JFK over an inflight meltdown in which she allegedly bit a flight attendant before allegedly assaulting a nurse and a police officer as she was taken to hospital for treatment.

The episode began to unfold about 11 pm. Sunday, when law enforcement was called to John F. Kennedy International Airport to address a “physically abusive passenger” aboard Delta Airlines flight 938, which had taxied to the gate after flying in from Los Angeles.

Two flight attendants were injured, and one of them was evaluated at a hospital, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey told the Daily News, identifying Blair, 54, as the passenger in question. One flight attendant had bite marks and another had a laceration, according to law enforcement sources.

During her appearance at Queens criminal court, an Attorney for Blair said the actress, who suffers from multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease, missed several doses of “a powerful medication” that she takes to manage her severe neurological symptoms, and that she struck her head during the flight.

“These factors, coupled with the altitude, resulted in a state of severe confusion and disorientation,” Blair’s lawyer, Shawn Barnes, told the judge at her arraignment.

Another attorney representing the actress wiped tears from Blair’s eyes as she pleaded not guilty to the assault charges for the attacks on the police officer and nurse in Queens Criminal Court on Monday. She was released after posting bail set at $20,000 cash.

She is also facing federal charges for the incident on board the airplane.

Blair, who rose to prominence in the late 1990s and early 2000s with appearances in films such as “Cruel Intentions,” and “Legally Blonde,” was taken into custody and to a hospital for evaluation, the sources said.

But the sources said Blair continued with her abusive behavior en route to Jamaica Hospital. While in the ambulance, she repeatedly kicked a female police officer in the head, prompting the officer to be evaluated at the hospital as well. Once at the hospital, Blair allegedly assaulted a nurse, who is pressing charges.

Because mid-flight episodes are under federal jurisdiction, the FBI issued Blair a District Court Violation Notice to appear at a later date in Brooklyn federal court where she could face up to a year of prison for the alleged assaults.

In addition, the actress faces state charges of two counts of assault, on a police officer and a nurse.

She was traveling with her service dog, who is now with her attorney, the sources noted.

The chaos erupted mid-flight when Blair allegedly assaulted at least one flight attendant, according to the audio of a call from the airplane seeking medical attention for two people at the gate. The audio also indicates the “disruptive passenger” had hit her head against a bulkhead.

Her rep blamed a medical condition, without specifying. Blair was diagnosed in 2018 with multiple sclerosis and uses a service dog due to mobility and balance issues caused by the disorder, which affects the central nervous system.

“Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct,” Blair’s rep Jill Fritzo told USA Today. “Upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition.”

Delta told The News that there was “no operational impact to the flight,” which landed ahead of schedule.

“Delta has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first,” the airline told The News in an emailed statement, deferring further comment to local law enforcement.

The actress had a similar meltdown in 2016, also on a Delta flight, and was taken off the plane on a stretcher after exhibiting what was described as bizarre behavior while flying back from Cancun with her son and the boy’s father. She later apologized and blamed it on ill-conceived mixing of alcohol and medication. Six months later, she said she was “recovered” and was “ready to put it behind me.”

-----------

©2026 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.