American actress Selma Blair has been charged with two counts of second-degree assault following an alleged altercation aboard a Delta Air Lines flight from Los Angeles to New York, according to court documents.

The 54-year-old actress, known for her roles in Legally Blonde and Cruel Intentions, was detained at John F. Kennedy International Airport after the flight landed late Sunday.

US media reports alleged that Blair punched one flight attendant and bit another during the incident. She was also accused of assaulting a police officer and a nurse while being transported to a hospital.

Court documents indicated that the charges filed at a New York state court on Monday concerned the alleged assaults on the police officer and nurse.

Blair pleaded not guilty to both charges and was subsequently released on bail. Her next court hearing is scheduled for January 19.

A federal judicial source also disclosed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation had issued a summons accusing the actress of assault-related offences aboard the aircraft.

Responding to the incident, a representative for Blair 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.

Delta Air Lines, meanwhile, reiterated its commitment to passenger and crew safety, stating that it would not tolerate disruptive or unlawful conduct.

The incident has drawn renewed attention to Blair’s previous experience involving disruptive behaviour during air travel.

In 2016, the actress was removed from a flight on a stretcher following an outburst. She later told Vanity Fair that mixing alcohol with medication had caused her to black out and engage in behaviour she regretted.

Blair also recounted in her 2022 memoir that she had bitten several celebrities, including Kate Moss, in incidents that she associated with situations involving alcohol consumption.