Dale Jr. Talks Fears, Altered Approach To Flying After Plane Crash

In August 2019, Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family were on board their private plane when it crashed at the Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee. The plane ran off the end of the runway and caught fire, but luckily nobody was injured.

Dale Jr. is no stranger to taking risks. But now, he’s speaking out about how he deals with flying and his new fear. Yahoo Sports reports that Earnhardt before the Daytona 500, Earnhardt said he’s changed his approach to flying.

“It’s really tough on me getting back in the plane and it will never be the same now that you know the real realities and dangers. Something you will never be able to forget and never block out no matter how many flights you take. … For me to be able to get back in there and go and do and travel like I want, the only way I can do it is really was to get into the details.”

Short of getting his pilot license, Earnhardt has tried to learn everything he can. He looked extensively into his jet’s capabilities and checking detailed weather reports days before stepping on the plane. But most importantly, he’s spoken to people about his experience, and the advice he heard repeatedly: keep getting back on the plane and in the air.