In brief
- Fear of flying is a common phobia that affects all types of people, including celebrities
- People like David Bowie, Katie Perry and Megan Fox are all nervous flyers
- These people fly above their fears, and you can too
Celebrities afraid of flying
Read about 12 famous people who, like many nervous flyers, have a fear of flying, and how they’ve learned to cope with it.
Some famous figures – including Hollywood actors, sports stars, and world-famous music legends have openly shared their fear of air travel.
David Bowie
A stormy flight in the 1970s left David Bowie with a lifelong fear of flying. He also claimed to some that he’d foreseen his death in a plane crash. The globe-trotting star managed to deal with his fear of flying, using aeroplanes throughout his career.
Travis Barker
Drum-smashing music legend Travis Barker developed a fear of flying later in life. The Blink‑182 drummer survived a private plane crash in 2008 that killed others and left him seriously injured.
That traumatic experience triggered a long‑lasting fear of flying. For years, he avoided planes entirely, until recently, when love and therapy helped him face the skies again.
Megan Fox
Megan Fox confessed that frequent travel for work intensified her aerophobia. To cope with turbulence, she developed a quirky yet effective ritual: listening to nostalgic Britney Spears tracks like Oops!… I Did It Again – to remind her “that’s not the soundtrack to my death.”
Jennifer Connelly
The Oscar‑winning actress admitted to a “crippling fear of flying” while filming Top Gun: Maverick.
Connelly originally believed her role wouldn’t involve aerial scenes, but managed to face her fears and complete the film.
Jennifer Aniston
Perhaps surprisingly, despite her jet‑setting career, Friend’s star Jennifer Aniston has described her fear of flying as “extreme”.
According to reports, she’s relied on rituals. These include tapping the plane with her right palm, stepping in with her right foot to soothe anxiety. Recently, she’s shifted to hypnosis, meditation, walking, and stretching on flights to help calm her nerves.
Nick Jonas
Despite touring extensively, Nick Jonas has said simply: “I hate flying.” He revealed this during a Q&A, surprising fans who assumed frequent touring made air travel second‑nature.
Whoopi Goldberg
Whoopi Goldberg’s aviophobia stemmed from a traumatic flight experience – she once had a passenger collapse dead onto her mid‑flight.
The Star Trek TNG actor avoided planes for decades and instead toured via bus. But now, she’s overcome the fear with treatment and support, and recently shared she’s flying again and even sitting in a cockpit.
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali, the world’s hardest-hitting and arguably best-known boxer had a long-standing fear of flying.
As a young Cassius Clay, he flew to the 1960 Olympics in Rome with so much anxiety that he carried his own parachute. He also sought reassurance by asking the U.S. Air Force for aircraft safety records before boarding – and ultimately managed to fly, winning gold.
Aretha Franklin
The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin reportedly avoided flying altogether, opting for bus travel over planes.
Sandra Bullock
Ironically, Sandra Bullock, who starred in the survival thriller Gravity, has described herself as a fearful flyer. The phobia reportedly took hold after she survived a minor 2000 incident.
Colin Farrell
SWAT star Colin Farrell has spoken plainly about his discomfort with flying, calling it “highly unnatural.” He manages it with calm strategies and occasional relaxation aids.
John Madden
The man, the myth, and the legend John Madden refused to fly. The late American Football commentator and coach was known to harbor a deep aversion to flying, preferring to travel by bus or car during his coaching and broadcasting career.
Feel the bumps, don’t fear them
Fame and fortune don’t erase our vulnerabilities. Whatever the cause, fear of flying is common, and it’s something you can cope with.
Many of these celebrities have found ways to cope with their fear of flying through practical mechanisms, including music, rituals, therapy, hypnosis, or even substituting flights with boats.
Most have managed to fly above fear, and so can you. If you want some extra in-flight support, download our Calm Flight Toolkit and check out our Help Desk.
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