Actress Natasha Lyonne Escorted Off Delta Flight, Causing Delay

On Tuesday night, actress Natasha Lyonne was escorted off a Delta Air Lines flight, resulting in a delay of over an hour. Lyonne later stated on social media that she had taken a sleep aid after boarding. The incident occurred after she attended a television premiere and before a scheduled talk show appearance.

Incident Details

According to a report from Page Six, the incident took place on a Tuesday night red-eye flight.

The report states that flight attendants asked Lyonne, who was seated in first class, to close her laptop and fasten her seatbelt in preparation for takeoff. The report indicates she did not respond to these instructions.

Multiple flight attendants reportedly attempted to get Lyonne to follow the instructions. Following these attempts, the aircraft returned to the gate. Lyonne was then asked to leave the aircraft.

Lyonne's Statement

On Friday, Lyonne addressed the incident in a post on the social media platform X. In her statement, she presented a different account of events, disputing aspects of the initial report.

• Lyonne stated she had taken the sleep aid Lunesta after being seated on the flight in order to rest.
• She wrote that she boarded the flight "seamlessly" with a backpack and sneakers and intended to sleep.
• Lyonne said she was subsequently "detained," which prevented her from appearing on The Drew Barrymore Show as scheduled. She described this outcome as a "sign of the times."
• She apologized to fellow travelers for the flight delay and noted she had not previously had issues with Delta Air Lines or the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

Context and Aftermath

• The flight incident occurred after Lyonne attended the premiere for the third season of the HBO series Euphoria.
• She had been scheduled to appear on The Drew Barrymore Show the following day, Wednesday, to promote the series.
• Despite the incident, Lyonne later traveled to New York City and attended the premiere of Lorne, a documentary about Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels.

Public Discussions and Official Response

• In recent months, Lyonne has publicly discussed her recovery from addiction. In January, she stated on social media that she had relapsed and was no longer sober. Last month, she thanked supporters and reported she was "doing a whole lot better."
• The Hollywood Reporter contacted U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for comment on the incident but did not receive a response.
• Delta Air Lines declined to comment on the incident.