Natasha Lyonne Talks About Recent Plane Incident

Natasha Lyonne is maintaining a playful attitude while discussing the event that led to her being removed from a flight last week. The 47-year-old actress was escorted off a plane in Los Angeles after allegedly not following flight attendants’ instructions. Lyonne later explained the situation, saying she had taken the sleeping pill Lunesta after boarding the Red Eye flight and mentioned being briefly detained by ICE.

During an interview with Page Six, she made some lighthearted comments about the incident. When asked how she was doing post-incident, she quipped, “Oh, you mean my flight plan? My performance art piece?” This remark came at the Planned Parenthood of Greater New York’s Spring Into Action Gala.

Lyonne described the experience as “really tough,” but she expressed gratitude, likening herself to a “Marathon Man” since she had flown three times since without complications. “Despite everything, I seem to arrive on time and achieve my goals,” she noted. “But yeah, these are weird moments, weird times.”

On April 7, Lyonne appeared to be “unwell” while in first class on a Delta flight and was removed after the crew couldn’t get a response from her during pre-flight checks. The plane returned to the gate, where she was escorted off. In a post on X, she recounted that after attending the Euphoria season 3 premiere in Los Angeles, she had taken Lunesta upon her seat to help her sleep during the flight.

Lyonne explained that she only took her backpack and sneakers on board as she wanted to rest. Her plan was to “grow a bushy tail and let my beauty rest” since she had an appearance lined up on “The Drew Barrymore Show” after landing. She also claimed that her encounter with ICE was unexpected.

“I was looking forward to an in-depth meeting with Drew, but it appears ICE had other plans and detained me instead. Perhaps a sign of the times,” her post read. However, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson denied her claims, stating that neither ICE nor TSA had escorted or detained her.

Despite the incident, Lyonne reflected on her experiences with Delta Air Lines and TSA, indicating that she hadn’t had any issues previously. She apologized to travelers affected by delays, expressing solidarity with TSA workers.

In a subsequent conversation with Page Six, Lyonne downplayed being labeled as a “survivor” by the media, remarking, “I don’t know if that happened, but it was a wild ride.” She added, “We are all living in wild times, and we’re all doing our best.”

Lyonne also opened up about a recent relapse after ten years of sobriety, aiming to share the realities of recovery. “It was an interesting journey,” she stated, emphasizing the importance of honesty in discussing her experiences. She wants others facing challenges to feel supported, reminding them they’re not alone in their struggles.

Later, during the Planned Parenthood event, she acknowledged Pink as a legend while also poking fun at her own situation. “She, like me, doesn’t let others dictate what to do or how to act,” she said, drawing laughter from the audience and rounding off her comments about the flight incident.