David Spade Shares Laughs From His Wild Jackson Hole Flight

Mountain pilots who land planes in blizzards are the unsung daredevils of aviation, mastering a perilous blend of skill, instinct, and nerves of steel. Battling whiteout conditions, howling winds, and treacherous terrain, they rely on razor-sharp judgment and intimate knowledge of the peaks and valleys to guide their aircraft safely to the ground. Every landing is a high-stakes puzzle: one wrong move could mean disaster, yet these pilots perform with a calm precision that comes only from years of experience. Whether delivering critical supplies, rescuing stranded climbers, or transporting passengers, their bravery and expertise turn nature’s fury into a challenge they are uniquely equipped to meet.

Famous comedian David Spade did a stand-up bit about flying into Jackson, which he described as a "turbulent ride" in an Instagram reel posted in October 2025. He was excited about the flight until he had a scary experience on a private plane hired to fly him to a show there. See the reel below!

Commenters were quick to point out there own experiences and others' like his.

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I love one internet user's comment: "For some reason in my head the pilot looks like Alec Baldwin." I was picturing David Harbour (the cop from Stranger Things).

Another person said we should check out Sandra Bullock's plane crash story. In December of 2020 she was on a small jet with three others when it skidded off the runway during a landing in Jackson Hole. Blinding snow and darkness were contributing factors. Not so funny, but luckily nobody was hurt badly.

Flying in the winter in Wyoming carries a unique set of risks that challenge even experienced pilots. The state’s high mountains, wide-open plains, and sudden weather shifts create conditions that can turn routine flights into dangerous ventures.

Flying in a blizzard is one of the most hazardous challenges a pilot can face. Visibility can drop to near zero as snow swirls violently around the aircraft, making it almost impossible to see the ground, obstacles, or even other planes. Icy winds can batter the plane, while freezing temperatures cause ice to form on wings, propellers, and instruments, threatening lift and control. Turbulence over mountains or uneven terrain can toss the aircraft unpredictably, and navigation becomes a deadly puzzle when GPS signals falter or instruments freeze. Every decision—from altitude to speed to landing—is fraught with risk, meaning even a small mistake can have catastrophic consequences. Flying in a blizzard is not just difficult; it’s a battle against nature at its most extreme.