'Counting On' Star John David Duggar Breaks Silence On 2021 Plane Crash
Thankful to be alive!
Counting On star John David Duggar and his wife, Abbie, have broken their silence on their harrowing 2021 plane crash.
“An emergency landing or any kind of plane crash is a scary thing, but it’s exactly what pilots are trained for," the young couple said in a joint statement to Celebuzz.
"We are so thankful for God’s protection, as we all walked away without injuries when this happened last October," the statement continued. "We so appreciate the love and care so many have expressed toward us!"
As to what caused the crash, it is reportedly still being investigated by state and federal agencies, and few details have been released to the public. Sources have speculated a broken fuel gauge may have contributed to the incident, and InTouch reported the Piper PA-30 crashed in a Tennessee field on October 29, 2021 due to fuel issues.
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However, a 911 dispatcher who spoke to People claimed the issue was believed to be "double engine failure."
According to the accident report obtained by the outlet, there was “substantial” damage to the little six-seat plane, but nobody was injured in the crash landing.
At the time of the incident, the plane was registered to Medic Choppers, LLC and belonged to Medic Corps. The reality tv personality is the director of business for the non-profit organization that provides aircraft for emergency medical care.
John David has been flying for years and has documented his trips all over the world on social media. He first purchased the Piper PA-30 in July 2020, and was able to earn his flight instructor certificate in May 2021. One month after the crash, he obtained his commercial pilot license.
Aviation has been an important part of John David and Abbie's relationship. The 19 Kids and Counting star first popped the question to the love of his life in a hangar. The couple later announced their first pregnancy on Instagram with a selfie taken in the cockpit of a plane.