Actress Selma Blair has been taken into custody after allegedly punching and biting two flight attendants before trying to open the door mid-flight.
The 54-year-old star of Cruel Intentions and Legally Blonde was aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York when the incident occurred on Sunday.
Police and FBI investigators were called to the aircraft after it landed at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and arrested Ms Blair.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said officers responded to reports of a physically abusive passenger and confirmed that two members of the cabin crew had been injured during the incident.
One of the injured crew members was taken to hospital for medical assessment, while Ms Blair was also transported to hospital for evaluation.
The FBI is investigating the incident, which occurred aboard Delta flight 938. The agency confirmed it was looking into a potential assault but declined to provide further details while the investigation continues.
Ms Blair’s representative said the actress had experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged behaviour.
“Upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition,” the representative said in a statement reported by U.S. media.
Delta reiterated its position on disruptive passengers, saying the safety of customers and crew remained its priority.
“Delta has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behaviour, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first,” the airline said.
The incident has drawn renewed attention to Ms Blair’s previous in-flight medical emergency in 2016, when she was removed from a flight from Cancun to Los Angeles on a stretcher after an outburst.
The star later apologised, saying she had mixed alcohol with medication and blacked out.
The actress has also been open about her health, revealing in 2018 that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. She has since become an advocate for disability rights.
Authorities have not released a full account of the latest incident and the allegations against Ms Blair remain subject to investigation.
