Earnhardt family not seriously injured in plane crash

Dale Earnhardt Jr., his wife Amy, and their child Isla avoided serious injuries after the plane they were aboard skidded off the runway and caught fire Thursday, Carter County sheriff Dexter Lunceford told ABC News.

The crash occurred at Elizabethton Municipal Airport in Tennessee. No serious injuries have been reported, added Lunceford, who confirmed that the pilot, one other individual, and the Earnhardts' family dog were also aboard the plane.

"When our first unit arrived, there were heavy flames coming from the airplane," Elizabethton fire chief Barry Carrier told CNN's Steve Almasy and Dave Alsup. Carrier added that the fire burned for 20 minutes.

Kelley Earnhardt - Dale Jr.'s sister - confirmed on Twitter that the accident happened. She said "everyone is safe" and they have been taken to the hospital for further evaluation.

The small craft was identified by the Federal Aviation Administration as a Cessna Citation.

A two-time NASCAR Busch Series champion, Earnhardt retired from racing in 2018. Since then, he has taken on a role as a NASCAR analyst for NBC.