John Travolta's own near-death experience was why he worked on The Shepherd
John Travolta's The Shepherd to release soon
John Travolta had a terrifying experience as he flew a plane in the upcoming release The Shepherd, a short film by Alfonso Cuaron. The short film is set to premiere on Disney+ this winter.
Based on Frederick Forsyth’s 1975 novella of the same name, it tells the story of Freddie Hooke (played by Ben Radcliffe), a young Royal Air Force pilot flying home for Christmas across the North Sea. Shortly into the journey, his de Havilland Vampire jet suffers total electrical failure, leaving Freddie facing almost certain death. Suddenly a mysterious pilot (played by Travolta) appears in the sky, ready to guide the young man to safety.
John Travolta spoke about the near-death-defying experience he had in real life in 1992 and how this film brought back those memories. The actor has a real-life pilot’s license. He suffered a near-miss plane crash in 1992, something he has never spoken about before but is ready to talk about now.
John Travolta said, “I actually experienced a total electrical failure, not in a Vampire but in a corporate jet over Washington DC. So when I read [Forsyth’s] book, it resonated even more because of this experience I had personally had. I knew what it felt like to absolutely think you’re going to die.” This happened when John Travolta was piloting from Florida to Maine for Thanksgiving.
He added, “I had two good jet engines but I had no instruments, no electric, nothing. And I thought it was over. And then as if by a miracle, we descended as per the rules to a lower altitude. I saw that Washington DC monument and identified that Washington National Airport was right next to it and I made a landing just like [Freddie] does in the film.”
Also read:Jamie Foxx, Cuba Gooding Jr, Axl Rose, face sexual assault lawsuits amid New York's legal shift
)
‘Kill all in the name of...’: FBI arrests 21-year-old over alleged ISIS-inspired mass-casualty attack plot
)
Space mines, lasers & robotic arms: Lt Gen Pannu decodes US disclosure of weapons in space
)
Bitter Zelensky snubs Trump for playing politics with Ukraine war | Gravitas
)
US fires up to 70 interceptors against Iran attack on Jordan, putting supplies under pressure
)
‘US military task force aiding Saudi Arabia forces with intel, planning support’: Official
)
OpenAI boss Sam Altman repeats AI 'slow down' call, says world 'right to be afraid'
)
Top military commanders from US, Israel, and 7 Arab nations held secret meeting on Iran War
)
Sydney Sweeney defends provocative ad choice, the internet is still not impressed
)
India to host IPL 2027 auction; WPL 2027 auction set for late October in Kochi
)
Shahzad Bhatti Network declared terrorist organisation under UAPA: Govt order
)
'Definitely feel bad for yourself': Kuldeep Yadav opens up on India Test snubs
)
US, China dominate global economy: Where does India rank among the world's biggest economies?
)
Ex-India all-rounder Yuvraj Singh wants India to avoid 'massive changes' before ODI World Cup 2027
)
Ed Sheeran’s US tour loses all support acts after Macklemore’s removal | Controversy explained
)
Ex-England footballer Raheem Sterling pleads guilty in reckless driving and crashing his Lamborghini
)
China's property crisis deepens as investment plunges nearly 20%
)
Alex Saab, ally of Venezuela's Maduro, pleads guilty in US corruption case
)
Messi set to play in farewell match on October 6 in Argentina vs Benin friendly
)
Who was Eliana Moreno? NBC LA aerial reporter killed in Chatsworth crash
)
Putin-linked Russian oligarch, Melania links: Why Trump skipped his son’s Bahamas wedding bash?
)
800 million years old - Scientists discover 'fingerprints' of supercontinent Gondwana in ancient rocks
)
Trump's name cannot return to Kennedy Center, US judge rules
)
Pakistan naval vessel returns to harbour with 'severe damage' after collision with Indian warship in Arabian Sea
)
Water equivalent to two Pacific Oceans could be stashed 2,900 km inside Earth
)
Ex-CIA officer caught with gold bars worth $40 million seeks plea deal | Gravitas
)
Pakistan: Imran Khan's sons Kasim & Sulaiman claim their father is 'tortured' in jail
)
Trump's Iran war faces fresh House rebuke; 7 Republicans join Democrats in push to end conflict ahead of midterms
)
US Treasury yields cross 5% as Scott Bessent warns of ‘global issues’ impacting bonds
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
New OTT releases this week (September 14-20, 2026): Lust Stories 3, Waiting Hai, Irumudi- 5 new titles coming on Netflix, Prime Video and more
)
Who is Kalyan Bainsla, accused in the Gurugram hit-and-run case involving woman biker?
)
Saudi Arabia discovers 110 million tonnes of Uranium-rich ore in Madinah region
)
Los Angeles helicopter crash: At least three dead, several injured; NTSB to investigate
)
India summons top Pakistan diplomat after Pak Navy ship collides with Indian warship at high seas
)
Saudi Arabia accuses Houthis of drone attack on Mecca, first-ever red alert in Islam's holiest site sparks panic
)
'Like a thug you are using agency to go after..': Kash Patel grilled by Senate Democrats over FBI firings, journalist investigations and hiring policy
)
Abhishek Sharma rises to No. 2 in T20Is; ENG’s Robinson 3rd after record Pakistan Tests
)
Canada to become EU’s first ‘associate member’? Von der Leyen proposes move amid US tensions
About the short film, John said that the film captures Freddie’s horror “beautifully”. “He captured that despair when you think you’re actually going to die. And I had my family on board and I said ‘This is it, I can’t believe I’m gonna die in this plane.’”
Interestingly, right around the time of his incident, John got a chance to make The Shepherd. The film, however, took long to make.
