Selma Blair arrested after alleged assault on crew of Delta flight to New York
Actress Selma Blair, 54, was arrested at JFK on Sunday 11 October after allegedly hitting and biting flight attendants on a Delta flight from Los Angeles. Her representative says a medical emergency caused the conduct; the FBI is reportedly investigating.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2Actress Selma Blair, 54, was arrested on Sunday 11 October after an alleged incident on a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York's JFK Airport. VarietyLC “Selma Blair was arrested on Sunday after an alleged violent incident on a Delta flight from Los Angeles to New York” Read at Variety ↗ Fox NewsR “Selma Blair was arrested Sunday after allegedly attacking crew members on board a Delta flight into New York City.” Read at Fox News ↗ Mixed · 2She is alleged to have punched one flight attendant, bitten another and tried to open the aircraft door while it was in the air; Variety and the Daily Mail attribute the detail to TMZ or say it was 'claimed'. VarietyLC “allegedly punched one flight attendant and bit another after attempting to open the plane door while in the air, per TMZ” Read at Variety ↗ Daily MailR “It was claimed Blair punched one flight attendant and bit another” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Right · 1Port Authority police said they responded at about 11pm on 11 October to a call about a physically abusive passenger on Delta flight 938, which was parked at the gate after arriving from LAX; Blair was taken into custody and transported to a hospital for evaluation. Fox NewsR “PAPD responded to a call about a physically abusive passenger aboard Delta Airlines flight 938 which was parked at the gate after arrival from LAX”“She was taken into custody and transported to the hospital for evaluation.” Read at Fox News ↗
Mixed · 2Two flight attendants reported injuries, and one was taken to hospital. New York PostR “Two flight attendants also reported injuries, with one taken to a local hospital for evaluation” Read at New York Post ↗ VarietyLC “Two flight attendants reported injuries, with one receiving care at a hospital.” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2A representative for Blair told TMZ: 'Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct. Upon landing, she received immediate medical attention and is currently in stable condition.' VarietyLC “Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct.” Read at Variety ↗ Daily MailR “is currently in stable condition.” Read at Daily Mail ↗ Mixed · 2Delta said it has 'zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first', and that the flight had no operational impact and landed ahead of schedule. Fox NewsR “Additionally, there was no operational impact to the flight as it landed ahead of schedule at JFK, Delta said.” Read at Fox News ↗ VarietyLC “Delta has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first.” Read at Variety ↗
Mixed · 2The FBI is reported to be looking into the incident, though the New York Post says no criminal charges have been announced. New York PostR “No criminal charges have been announced but the FBI is reviewing the incident, police said.” Read at New York Post ↗ VarietyLC “A source says the FBI is currently investigating the incident.” Read at Variety ↗ Mixed · 2Outlets recalled a 2016 Delta flight incident in which Blair was removed on a stretcher; she apologised at the time, saying she had mixed alcohol with medication. Daily MailR “I mixed alcohol with medication, and that caused me to black out” Read at Daily Mail ↗ VarietyLC “she was removed from a flight on a stretcher” Read at Variety ↗ Right · 2The Daily Mail also noted her 2018 multiple sclerosis diagnosis, while the New York Post and Fox News referred to controversy over a 2024 Instagram post about Islam and its effect on her career. Daily MailR “In 2018, Blair revealed her diagnosis with multiple sclerosis” Read at Daily Mail ↗ New York PostR “has seen her career hampered following an anti-Islamic Instagram post in 2024” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left7 outlets
- Framing
- Variety reports the arrest as confirmed news, with the allegations attributed to TMZ and the rep's 'medical emergency' statement in the headline.
- Emphasis
- Blair's medical-emergency explanation, Port Authority and Delta confirmation, no operational impact.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not mention the 2024 controversy or her MS diagnosis.
- Charged language
- “chaos on board”
Centre6 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right4 outlets
- Framing
- Right-leaning outlets lead with the alleged violence; the Post and Daily Mail use tabloid language and add Blair's past controversies, while Fox is more restrained.
- Emphasis
- Punching, biting, door attempt; FBI involvement; Blair's past incidents and controversies.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The Post leaves out the rep's medical-emergency statement; Fox omits the door detail and FBI involvement.
- Charged language
- “busted”“slugging”“high-flying meltdown”“went nuts”“controversial actress”
- For example
-
“was busted on a JFK-bound Delta Airlines flight after slugging one flight attendant” — New York Post
“shipped off to a local hospital for evaluation after the high-flying meltdown” — New York Post
“'punching and biting flight attendants'” — Daily Mail
What every side reports
- Blair, 54, was arrested on Sunday after an incident on a Delta flight from LA to JFK.
- Two flight attendants reported injuries and one went to hospital.
- Blair's representative cites a medical emergency and says she is in stable condition.
- Delta says it has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior.
Where accounts differ
-
Cause of the alleged conduct
- Left
- Variety headlines the rep's 'medical emergency' account alongside the allegations.
- Right
- Daily Mail, Fox and the Post carry the rep's statement, but the Post and Daily Mail lead with the allegations and past incidents.
-
Whether the attack is established
- Left
- Variety attributes the details to TMZ and calls them alleged.
- Right
- The New York Post states the punching, biting and door attempt in its own voice, citing authorities; Daily Mail and Fox use 'allegedly'.
-
Blair punched one flight attendant, bit another and tried to open the plane door in flight.
Reported- Reports 4
- Variety, Daily Mail, Fox News, New York Post
-
A medical emergency led to Blair's alleged conduct on the flight.
Reported- Reports 3
- Variety, Daily Mail, Fox News
-
The FBI is investigating the incident.
Reported- Reports 3
- Variety, Daily Mail, New York Post
Selma Blair person
Through a representative, says she had a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct, received immediate medical attention and is in stable condition.
“Selma experienced a medical emergency that led to the alleged conduct.” — Variety
Delta Air Lines organisation
Confirms law enforcement met the flight, says it has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and that the flight was not operationally affected.
“Delta has zero tolerance for unruly or unlawful behavior, as the safety of our customers and crew always comes first,” — Fox News
Left7 articles
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Neutral Attributes allegations to TMZ, puts the medical-emergency statement in the headline, adds official confirmations.
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Show 3 moreShow fewer
Centre6 articles
Right5 articles
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Mixed Leads with allegations in quotes, includes the rep's statement, then recounts the 2016 incident and her MS diagnosis.
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Selma Blair arrested after in-flight incident
Neutral Straight report quoting Port Authority police, Blair's rep and Delta; marked developing.
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Critical Tabloid tone stating the assault as fact, with Blair's past biting admissions and career troubles.
- 12 Oct 18:38 First IJRRC Selma Blair Reportedly Arrested After Midair Door Attempt
- 12 Oct 18:53 +15m Daily MailR Selma Blair arrested on flight after 'punching and biting flight attendants' and 'trying to open plane door'
- 12 Oct 19:05 +27m Hindustan TimesN 'Selma Blair experienced a medical emergency': Rep responds after actor's alleged mid-flight assault on Delta flight attendants
- 12 Oct 19:08 +30m VarietyLC Selma Blair Arrested After Allegedly Biting Flight Attendant and Trying to Open Plane Door; Rep Says She Suffered ‘Medical Emergency’
- 12 Oct 19:13 +36m Fox NewsR Selma Blair arrested after in-flight incident
- 12 Oct 19:14 +36m New York PostR Selma Blair arrested for allegedly slugging flight attendant, biting another on NYC-bound flight; FBI investigating
- 12 Oct 19:31 +54m NewsweekN Selma Blair Allegedly Bites Attendant, Tries to Open Door Mid-Flight—Report
- 12 Oct 19:38 +1h 1m CBS NewsLC Selma Blair arrested in NYC after "potential assault" on flight attendants
- 12 Oct 19:46 +1h 8m The Hollywood ReporterLC Selma Blair Taken Into Custody at New York’s JFK Airport After Allegedly Punching, Biting Delta Staffers
- 12 Oct 19:48 +1h 10m Digital SpyN BREAKING NEWS: Selma Blair arrested after "punching and biting" airline crew mid-flight
- 12 Oct 19:56 +1h 18m Rolling StoneL Selma Blair Arrested After ‘Medical Emergency’ Led to Physical Altercation on Flight
- 12 Oct 19:56 +1h 19m NBC NewsLC Selma Blair taken into custody after being physically abusive on Delta flight, officials say
- 12 Oct 20:04 +1h 26m Gulf NewsN Actress Selma Blair arrested after alleged assault on flight attendants
- 12 Oct 20:06 +1h 28m The IndependentLC Selma Blair accused of biting flight attendant and trying to open plane door mid-flight: report
- 12 Oct 20:08 +1h 31m ABC NewsLC Selma Blair arrested after alleged altercation on Delta flight
- 12 Oct 20:17 +1h 39m Anadolu AgencyN US actress Selma Blair detained after alleged disturbance on New York flight
- 12 Oct 20:24 +1h 46m New York PostR Selma Blair screamed maniacally as she was dragged off plane after alleged midair crew attack: audio
- 12 Oct 20:27 +1h 49m BBC NewsN US actress Selma Blair arrested after allegedly attacking attendants on flight
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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