Commercial flights have been common since “the golden age of flying” in the 1920s and ‘30s. Since then, business-folk and public figures like musicians, politicians, and the Hollywood elite have relied on them.
If we’re being blunt, hearing actors constantly mention flights from New York to L.A. can be quite nauseating. We get it though. It’s a big country and those hubs are far apart.
So what happens when a celebrity suffers from severe aviophobia or aerophobia? Their career suffers as well, since we’re clearly living in a global economy. People in Europe love to see their favorite bands play live, and film executives love to see their stars filming in exotic locations. Here are a handful of celebrities that people in far off lands probably won't be seeing anytime soon.
1
DJ Khaled
A particular flight in the early 2000s was so traumatizing that he toured exclusively by bus for over a decade. However, a few years after his son Asahd was born in 2016, he was inspired to face his fears once and for all.
2
Jennifer Connelly
For years, she suffered from a “crippling fear of flying, so she originally signed on to "Top Gun: Maverick" believing she wouldn't have to film in the air. After finding out she’d be up in a P-51 with Tom Cruise as the pilot, she had no choice but to overcome the phobia right then and there.
3
Aretha Franklin
She developed a lifelong fear of flying after a turbulent flight in the 1980s, so she would only travel by bus and would turn down international tour opportunities.
4
Sandra Bullock
In 2013, she said she was "deathly afraid of flying" after surviving a harrowing Wyoming plane crash 13 years earlier. When given the opportunity to star in “Gravity,” she felt compelled to challenge her aerophobia once and for all.
5
Moby
With a severe fear of flying, he often schedules tours around train or bus routes and avoids flying whenever possible.
6
Travis Barker
After surviving a deadly plane crash in 2008 that killed four people, he didn't fly for over 13 years. In 2021, he finally took a flight with now-wife Kourtney Kardashian.
7
Stanley Kubrick
With a paralyzing fear of flying, he avoided traveling for work or promotion as much as possible, and at times would rarely leave home.
8
John Madden
With claustrophobia and a fear of flying, he traveled exclusively by bus (famously known as the “Madden Cruiser”).
9
Loretta Lynn
With a deep fear of flying, the country music star avoided international touring and mainly traveled by bus within the U.S.
10
Whoopi Goldberg
She developed a fear of flying after witnessing a mid-air collision on TV, so she had to take a special course to help overcome her phobia. Generally, she prefers not to fly.
11
Enya
With a severe fear of flying, she avoids touring and live performances, and rarely leaves Ireland.
12
Charlie Chaplin
He had a strong dislike of flying and often took ships to Europe, even though that transatlantic journey would take 7-10 days.
13
Joseph "McG" Nichol
The accomplished director was attached to direct the 2006 movie "Superman Returns," but his fear of flying led to him being replaced by Brian Singer.
