Sister: Dale Earnhardt Jr. 'safe' after plane crash in Tennessee
BROOKLYN, MICHIGAN - AUGUST 09: Dale Earnhardt Jr. signs autographs during practice for the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Consumers Energy 400 at Michigan International Speedway on August 09, 2019 in Brooklyn, Michigan. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Gett
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. — Dale Earnhardt Jr., his wife Amy, and their child were on a plane that crashed in Tennessee on Thursday afternoon, Aug. 15, according to Mike Davis with JR Motorsports.
Earnhardt Jr.'s sister, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, tweeted that Dale and family are all safe, but were taken to the hospital for an evaluation.
"I can confirm Dale, Amy & Isla along with his two pilots were involved in a crash in Bristol TN this afternoon. Everyone is safe and has been taken to the hospital for further evaluation. We have no further information at this time. Thank you for your understanding."
Federal Aviation Administration officials said a Cessna Citation rolled off the end of a runway and caught fire after landing at Elizabethton Municipal Airport at 3:40 p.m. Thursday. FAA officials said the preliminary indication is that two pilots and three passengers were aboard.
Carter County Sheriff's Office spokesman Thomas Gray confirmed Earnhardt was aboard but said he wasn't one of the pilots.
Earnhardt retired as a full-time racer in 2017 and has been working as an analyst for NBC. He is part of the scheduled broadcast team for Saturday night's Cup Series event in Bristol, Tennessee.
INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA - MAY 26: Dale Earnhardt Jr. is introduced prior to during the 103rd running of the Indianapolis 500 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway on May 26, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)