Dale Earnhardt Jr. plane skids off runway, catches fire in Tennessee

ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. -- Racecar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and two of his family members are OK after their plane skidded off a runway and caught fire in north Tennessee, according to local officials.

Carter County Sheriff Dexter Lunceford told ABC News that Earnhardt, his wife and his child were aboard a plane that appeared to have burst into flames after landing at Elizabethton Municipal Airport. The pilot, another individual and the family's dog were also aboard.

Earnhardt was conscious and talking when he was taken to nearby Johnson City Medical Center, Lunceford said. No serious injuries were reported.

The FAA confirmed that a Cessna Citation rolled off the runway after landing at the Elizabethton Municipal Airport, according to the FAA. The agency also said that none of the five people aboard were injured.

The FAA said it will work with the NTSB to determine the cause of the accident.

Earnhardt currently works for NBC as a NASCAR commentator. There is a NASCAR race scheduled Saturday night in Bristol, about 20 miles from the airport where the plane crashed.

Follow this story on ABC11.com!


Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content