Former NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., along with his wife Amy and their daughter Isla, were hospitalized following a plane crash at Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee. The incident occurred when their private plane veered off the runway and subsequently caught fire. Fortunately, all occupants managed to escape without serious injuries.
News Channel 11’s Slater Teague reported on the crash, while Earnhardt’s sister, Kelley, reassured fans via Twitter that the family was safe but needed medical evaluation. According to Elizabethton Fire Chief Barry Carrier, both Dale and Amy were unharmed, highlighting their fortunate escape from a potentially tragic situation. Video footage shared by ABC News captured thick smoke rising from the crash site, underscoring the severity of the incident.
Airport manager Dan Cogan confirmed that the aircraft, identified as a Cessna Citation, went off the end of one of the airport’s runways before igniting. He noted that all passengers and crew members safely exited the aircraft, a fortunate outcome given the circumstances.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released an official statement detailing the crash. They indicated that the plane rolled off Runway 24 around 3:40 p.m. ET, with five individuals onboard—two pilots and three passengers. Remarkably, no injuries were reported to the FAA. They will conduct a thorough investigation, while the National Transportation Safety Board will assess the cause of the accident.
Images shared by local reporters revealed the aircraft, which is registered to JRM—Junior Motorsports, the racing team founded by Dale’s late father, Dale Earnhardt Sr. Fire Chief Carrier reiterated that none of the injuries were serious, emphasizing the family’s fortunate outcome amidst the chaos of the crash.
Be the first to comment