So far, none of the Duggar family members have really taken on traditional careers. Spouses of the Duggar kids, like Jeremy Vuolo and Abbie Burnett, have boasted professional gigs as a soccer player and nurse, respectively. But most of the Duggar kids, now adults, typically don't head off to college and start conventional careers. The few Duggars who went to college didn't finish it, and they also attended religious schools.
It makes sense, then, that each of the Duggars who moved out and started building their own lives had to find creative ways to make a living and pursue their passion. For John-David Duggar, it's always been flight that's struck his fancy, and it's rumored that the third-oldest Duggar might fly professionally. However, when he crashed in a small plane, he apparently wasn't on the clock.
John-David Duggar Learned To Fly Planes Early On
Viewers who used to watch 19 Kids and Counting or Counting On know that John-David has always been really into planes. In 2012, the Duggar Family Blog (a site run by super fans who are apparently also friends with the Duggars) published a post highlighting a trip where John-David took his brother Josh on a flight (the images were, per the blog post, courtesy of Josh Duggar).
At the time, John-David would have been about 22 years old. Commenters on the Duggars' blog at the time hoped that John-David would fulfill his dream of becoming a pilot, though some expressed surprise that he was able to get his license.
Fans remembered seeing John-David get involved in construction, and referred to a time when Jim Bob apparently said that flying lessons were too expensive (given Jim Bob's hefty net worth, it's unclear what was deemed too expensive).
However, the following year, an episode of 19 Kids and Counting showed John-David giving brother Joseph a lift to his 'boot camp' for emergency rescue team training. At the time, the show's description noted, John-David was "one step closer to his pilot license."
Whatever the case, John-David seemed to be a well-practiced pilot now, and his love of flight only became more clear from that trip to Little Rock, Arkansas.
Flight Is Part Of John-David And His Wife Abbie's Life
A few years after that small plane trip with his brother, John-David courted and married his now-wife, Abbie Burnett. The pair went on flights together, John-David proposed in an airport hangar, and their wedding photos even featured an airport runway and a small plane.
The two did, of course, depart their nuptials by plane as well. And later, they announced their first child with a plane-themed photoshoot, too.
Unfortunately, it hasn't always been smooth flying for the couple, not when it comes to John-David's flights, anyway.
John-David Crashed While Flying With His Family
In October 2021, John-David was piloting a small passenger plane when it crashed. He wasn't alone on board, either; two passengers were in the aircraft.
News of the crash wasn't immediately released, however, likely given the relatively non-noteworthy crash. Though the plane apparently took substantial damage, there were no injuries reported, according to John-David and Abbie's official statement to Celebuzz.
The two only released a statement in early 2022, which fans speculate is likely due to the fact that the crash wasn't publicized early on. Some fans pointed out, in comments on the Duggar Family Blog, that all plane crashes are public record when they involve significant damage.
One commenter stated that they saw the plane and that "it had a lot of damage and could not be flown. It had to be loaded on a flatbed and towed."
In Abbie and John-David's statement, they also clarified that the two passengers on board were their then-toddler daughter Grace and Abbie herself. The couple expressed gratitude that they were all safe and "walked away without injuries," and elaborated that "An emergency landing or any kind of plane crash is a scary thing, but it's exactly what pilots are trained for."
What Went Wrong With John-David's Plane?
When John-David and Abbie released their statement, they didn't specify the cause of the accident. Upon relaying the statement to the public, Celebuzz noted that some suspected that the plane crashed due to a "faulty fuel gauge."
Later, however, a news report quoted the local Sheriff's office as saying the original mayday call to emergency dispatch stated that the plane experienced "double engine failure."
Whatever the case, the original plane that John-David purchased in July 2020 was likely scrapped after the incident. But the crash didn't seem to stop the family from continuing to enjoy flight and going on airplane trips.
And odds are, John-David won't shy away from continuing to fly in the future. And in a heartwarming twist, it seems at least one of his brothers (Jeremiah) is also interested in aviation, which could mean more family flights are in their future.