Aviation ambassador John Travolta loses son

January 2, 6:31 PMDenver Aviation ExaminerChris Rodriguez

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John Travolta in his B707 (Source: www.curbe.com)

Those in the aviation community were surely saddened to hear about the death of actor John Travolta’s son Jett today, he was 16.  Most know Mr. Travolta through his long acting career, but he’s also been an avid aviator and ambassador for aviation for years.

Mr. Travolta flew his family around in his flying adventures, much like I’ve flown our family on private aircraft around the country as well, albeit on a much smaller scale, but it’s a special experience not to be missed. 

As air traffic controllers, we often talk to celebrities, usually without knowing it.  Many of these celebrities do their own flying and occasionally work the radios.  Wayne Newton was one in particular I remember while working at Los Angeles Center, of course flying in and out of Las Vegas, NV.

But once, while at Denver Center, I worked Mr. Travolta’s airplane and asked to speak to “the boss”.  At this time I was listening to “Battlefield Earth” on audiobook and heard a rumor he was making a movie version of it, so I asked him.  His response was “I can neither confirm nor deny that rumor” in his unmistakable drawl.  The flight was bound for Montreal, which I found out later was where the filming of this movie was taking place.

Our condolences and prayers go out to Mr. Travolta and his family at this difficult time, and blue skies to Jett.