U.S. safety agencies investigate plane crash involving racecar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr

A police officer photographs the wreckage of a plane crash involving NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family, who survived the incident, in Elizabethton, Tennessee, U.S. August 15, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller

(Reuters) - Two U.S. safety agencies are investigating the crash of a small plane in Tennessee on Thursday that was carrying retired racecar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., his wife and daughter, officials said.

Earnhardt's sister Kelley said on Twitter the two pilots of the Cessna Citation and three family members were safe and being taken to a hospital for observation. There were no serious injuries, according to officials in Tennessee cited by media.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the plane rolled off the end of a runway at Elizabethton Municipal Airport at 3:40 p.m. (2040 GMT) and caught fire. The National Transportation Safety Board was also investigating.

A firefighter walks past the wreckage of a plane crash involving NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family, who survived the incident, in Elizabethton, Tennessee, U.S. August 15, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller

WJHL-TV reported that Earnhardt was taken to the Johnson City Medical Center with minor injuries including cuts and abrasions. Footage showed a fire and severe damage to the airplane. A nearby highway and the airport were closed after the crash.

Earnhardt, who was NASCAR’s long-time biggest star, gave up full time racing after the 2017 season. He now broadcasts NASCAR races for NBC Sports.

The wreckage of a plane crash involving NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family, who survived the incident, in Elizabethton, Tennessee, U.S. August 15, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; editing by Grant McCool)

First responders walk near the wreckage of a plane crash involving NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family, who survived the incident, in Elizabethton, Tennessee, U.S. August 15, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller

A police officer looks at the wreckage of a plane crash involving NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family, who survived the incident, in Elizabethton, Tennessee, U.S. August 15, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller

The wreckage of a plane crash involving NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family, who survived the incident, in Elizabethton, Tennessee, U.S. August 15, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller

A police officer walks past the wreckage of a plane crash involving NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family, who survived the incident, in Elizabethton, Tennessee, U.S. August 15, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller

A police officer walks past the wreckage of a plane crash involving NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family, who survived the incident, in Elizabethton, Tennessee, U.S. August 15, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller

The wreckage of a plane crash involving NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family, who survived the incident, in Elizabethton, Tennessee, U.S. August 15, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller

Firefighters walk past the wreckage of a plane crash involving NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Jr. and his family, who survived the incident, in Elizabethton, Tennessee, U.S. August 15, 2019. REUTERS/Charles Mostoller

Emergency vehicles arrive at Elizabethton Municipal Airport, Tennessee, U.S. August 15, 2019 after a Cessna Citation plane carrying retired racecar driver Dale Earnhardt Jr., his wife and daughter, rolled off the end of a runway at the airport and caught fire, in this still image taken from a social media video. MANDATORY CREDIT Scott Reis via REUTERS

FILE PHOTO: Dale Earnhardt Jr. gets a ride back to his team after speaking with reporters following his last race at Talladega before his impending retirement, after fading to a seventh-place finish in NASCAR's Alabama 500 at Talladega Superspeedway in Lincoln, Alabama, U.S. October 15, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst