Morgan Freeman’s Plane Crash Leaves Actor And SJ30 Jet Pilot, Jimmy Hobson, Unscathed
A private plane carrying actor Morgan Freeman and pilot Jimmy Hobson made an emergency crash landing in Tunica, Mississippi on Saturday. Fortunately, neither the SJ30 jet pilot nor the Driving Miss Daisy actor were hurt.
As reported by Fox News, shortly after takeoff from a Clarksdale, Mississippi airport, the private SyberJet blew a tire. According to Sheriff Chief Deputy Randy Stewart, Freeman’s plane crash landed and went off the runway at a nearby airport in Tunica, about 40 miles southwest of Memphis, Tennessee.
The Oscar-winning actor credits Hobson for keeping him safe.
“Sometimes things don’t go as planned and a tire blew on takeoff, which caused other problems. But thanks to my excellent pilot Jimmy Hobson, we landed safely without a scratch.”
Freeman was aboard the SJ30 aircraft going to Texas to film a segment for National Geographic Channel’s TV series, The Story of God.
The condition of the Sj30 hasn’t been confirmed, but Freeman stated the aircraft wasn’t so lucky. An inspector is expected to examine the plane sometime on Sunday. The pilot and Freeman were the only ones on-board during the crash.
Morgan Freeman purchased the jet plane from the Emirates Investment and Development Company in 2009 for an undisclosed price. The SJ30 is a lightweight business class jet well-known in the industry for being fast, going long distances, and able to reach high-flying altitudes.
Known for his powerful voice and calm demeanor, Morgan Freeman is an American actor and narrator. He has appeared in countless roles on television and the big screen, including Invictus, The Shawshank Redemption, and Bruce Almighty. Additionally, he won an Oscar in 2005 for his part in Million Dollar Babies.
The screen star has had a very long and successful career, but Freeman is also famous for speaking his mind. Earlier this year, he revealed that not only is he a marijuana smoker, but also a supporter of legalizing the drug.
He said he believes that the intoxicating effects of the plant have several useful purposes that include pain relief. Admittedly, Freeman smokes marijuana for medical reasons, but says he would smoke it nonetheless.
“They used to say, ‘You smoke that stuff, boy, you get hooked!’ ” Freeman said with a laugh. “My first wife got me into it many years ago. How do I take it? However it comes! I’ll eat it, drink it, smoke it, snort it!”
In April, the award-winning actor made some very controversial statements about the Baltimore, Maryland police department after the death of Freddie Gray. When asked about the riots that were taking place in the city’s streets, Freeman likened the police to terrorists.
According to Freeman, “That unrest [in Baltimore] has nothing to do with terrorism at all, except the terrorism we suffer from the police.”
He said that what happened to Freddie Gray only shows how threatening the police can be. With the advent of cameras on mobile devices, more attention can be focused on police violence. He was also asked if he supported the protesters and responded with “absolutely.”
Despite many controversial comments over the years, the 78-year-old has become one of the most beloved and respected performers in modern cinema. He currently lives in Charleston, Mississippi and continues to work on new TV and film projects.
After Morgan Freeman’s SJ30 plane crashed on Saturday night, another aircraft was sent to Tunica to pick up the actor and it took him to Houston, Texas, according to longtime friend and mayor of Clarksdale, Bill Luckett.
[Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM]
