Austin Butler’s Terrifying Flight Experience Left Him Fearing for His Life

Austin Butler has opened up about a frightening health scare that occurred while traveling to film “The Bikeriders,” describing a terrifying episode that made him believe he was experiencing a life-threatening emergency.

The 34-year-old actor shared the harrowing experience during a recent interview with Men’s Health. He revealed how exhaustion and physical strain combined to create one of several health challenges during his demanding Hollywood career.

Shocking Mid-Flight Medical Emergency

The alarming incident took place while Butler was on a flight to begin shooting Jeff Nichols’s biker gang saga “The Bikeriders.” As the plane was landing, Butler experienced what he described as an overwhelming and frightening medical episode. The incident left him temporarily unable to see.

“It felt like the life was being sucked from my body,” Butler explained to the outlet. “I suddenly felt a euphoric sensation and I actually genuinely thought I was dying.”

The actor described how he jolted awake with a severe migraine just as the aircraft was preparing to land. He then lost his vision for several terrifying minutes. Despite the intensity of the experience, Butler managed to will his sight back gradually. He proceeded directly to the film set, where he worked for the entire day.

Butler attributed the frightening episode to sleep deprivation. The incident serves as one example of how the actor’s commitment to his craft has sometimes come at the expense of his physical well-being.

Pattern of Health Challenges Throughout Career

This mid-flight scare represents just one of several health issues Butler has encountered during his rise to Hollywood stardom. His dedication to transforming himself for various roles has resulted in multiple physical setbacks that have required medical attention and recovery time.

Following his lauded performance as Elvis Presley in Baz Luhrmann’s 2021 biopic, Butler spent a week hospitalized due to severe appendicitis-like pain. The intense physical and emotional demands of embodying the legendary performer for three years had taken a significant toll on his health. He ended up requiring medical intervention after filming concluded.

More recently, during his press tour for “Dune: Part Two” in South Korea, Butler developed mysterious foot pain that persisted for eight months. He had to walk with his toes curled under to avoid worsening the discomfort, according to Men’s Health. A New York City doctor finally discovered and removed a small piece of glass. It was about the size of a grain of rice, embedded in his foot, and was extracted, resolving the issue.

These health challenges have prompted Butler to reassess his approach to acting and self-care. He has acknowledged that his previous method of completely immersing himself in roles often meant “erasing himself.” This approach would leave him coming out “broken” on the other side.

“For a long time, I felt that it had to be a tortured process and I would come out the other side broken,” Butler shared.

However, Butler has found guidance from mentors like actress Laura Dern. The actress has helped him understand that intense character work doesn’t have to be destructive to his personal well-being.

“She’s helping me more and more to see that you can come out the other side, and maybe bits of you have healed, and synthesized, and metabolized,” Butler explained. “It can be therapeutic, in a way.”

Butler is currently preparing for the release of “Caught Stealing,” directed by Darren Aronofsky. The movie co-stars Regina King, Matt Smith, and Zoë Kravitz. The film, scheduled for release on August 29, 2025, follows a former baseball player who becomes entangled in New York’s criminal underworld.