John David Duggar might be parting with one of his longtime passions a year after an accident that could have been a lot worse. In January 2022, it was reported that John David had crashed a plane a few months prior, and both his wife and daughter were on board at the time. That had to be terrifying for the family, and now some say John David may have let his license expire, hinting he may be done with flying.
But it’s probably not as cut and dry as that.
According to the U.S. Sun, citing information from the Federal Aviation Administration, John David’s flight instructor license expired on May 31, 2023.
It doesn’t look like he has renewed it since.
The news outlet noted that only John David’s flight instructor license has not been renewed. According to the U.S. Sun, he still has an active commercial pilot’s license.
His license to fly a single-engine plane was issued in 2021, the same year as his flight instructor license.
It would make sense if he didn’t want to fly following the terrifying crash.
Back in 2021, John David crashed the plane he was piloting while Abbie and their young daughter Grace — who was not even 2 years old at the time — were aboard.
The plane, a Piper PA-30, suffered “substantial damage,” reports indicated, and the crash was attributed to either a fuel gauge issue or that the aircraft ran out of fuel.
The crash could have been a lot worse, but thankfully everyone was OK.
John David told the 911 dispatcher that his plane suffered a “double engine failure” and he had to make an emergency landing in a field. Luckily there were no injuries.
“An emergency landing or any kind of plane crash is a scary thing, but it’s exactly what pilots are trained for,” John David and Abbie told Celebuzz months after the accident, per The Hollywood Gossip.
“We are so thankful for God’s protection, as we all walked away without injuries when this happened last October. We so appreciate the love and care so many have expressed toward us!”
Planes have been a big part of John David and Abbie’s relationship.
Abbie is also a pilot. She got her student pilot license in August 2020, according to reports, and plans figure into every big milestone the two have had together.
John David proposed to Abbie surrounded by planes, and they took photos for their wedding on an airport tarmac.
When they found out they were pregnant with their first baby, they created an airplane-themed announcement that read, “Baby Passenger on Board.”
John David and Abbie are also parents to a son, Charlie, who they welcomed in September 2022.
