Jordynne Grace was flying high after passing her FAA knowledge test, but now her pilot journey has hit some serious turbulence.
The WWE SmackDown star revealed on Instagram that her FAA medical clearance was denied after she went in for approval ahead of her first solo flight. According to Grace, she did not realize her ADHD diagnosis could create a problem for pilots, and now she has to go through a long, expensive process just to keep chasing her license.
“On May 21st, I went to get my FAA medical clearance to fly because I had my first solo flight coming up. Unfortunately, I was not aware an ADHD diagnosis was a disqualifying condition for pilots. I’m currently in the process of resubmitting my application, but it is a long, invasive, expensive process. You’re required to discontinue your medication for 90 days (and then forever) to get a neuropsych evaluation done. This is a $5,000 test and includes 8-10 hours of testing to essentially prove you can function without ADHD symptoms efficiently while not medicated.”
That is a brutal turn for Grace, especially because she had been stacking wins in the air. She had already passed her FAA Airman Knowledge Test on May 23, 2026, with an 85% score on the Private Pilot Airplane exam, and she had been progressing through flight lessons after initially admitting the whole experience scared her badly.
Now, instead of focusing on her first solo flight, she is dealing with medical paperwork, testing requirements, and a denial she clearly did not see coming. Grace said the situation has left her feeling crushed, but she is still trying to look at it as a temporary problem instead of the end of the road.
“I feel very disappointed and defeated right now, but I’m cautiously optimistic that this will all seem like a slight speed bump at some point down the road.”
The FAA denial letter Grace shared spelled out the reason her application was rejected. The document said her May 21, 2026 medical examination did not meet federal airman medical certification standards because of her medical history and use of amphetamine + dextroamphetamine, also known as Adderall.
“Consideration of your application for airman medical certification and report of medical examinations completed on May 21, 2026, discloses that you do not meet the medical standards as prescribed in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 67, Specifically under paragraph(s) or section(s) 67.113(b)(c), 67.213(b)(c), and 67.313(b)(c) Medical Standards and Certification, due to your history of general medical condition (GMC) treated with aeromedically unacceptable medication amphetamine + dextroamphetamine (Adderall).”
The letter then made the denial official, confirming that the FAA would not issue Grace an airman medical certificate at this stage.
“Therefore, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), your application for issuance of an airman medical certificate is hereby denied.”
This setback comes just weeks after Grace proudly told fans she had passed the FAA Airman Knowledge Test. Her report showed she took the Private Pilot Airplane exam on May 23, 2026, passed on her first attempt, and scored 85%, which was a huge step toward getting licensed.
“I passed my FAA Airman Knowledge Test today 😭 “EXAM: Private Pilot Airplane (PAR)
EXAM DATE: 05/23/2026
SCORE: 85%
GRADE: Pass
TAKE: 1”
Grace had also been honest about how intense flight training felt at the start. She said she waited until she was five lessons in before posting about it because the first few sessions had her terrified, but she eventually started hitting real milestones in the cockpit, including power-off stalls, steep turns, flying “blind,” and taking off and landing without help.
“Five lessons in. I wanted to make sure I stopped crying and shitting myself before posting about it because I thought I might not be able to make it past the first couple of lessons. I took off and landed unassisted today (I think, he told me he didn’t help 😭)”
Grace’s goal was not just to earn a pilot’s license for fun either. She previously said she wanted to fly so she could volunteer with Pilots N Paws, a group that helps transport rescue animals, which made the whole journey feel a lot bigger than just another personal challenge: “My goal is to get my pilot license to be able to be apart of @pilotsnpaws 🐶”
Grace is still handling business on WWE SmackDown, but outside the ring, this is a pretty rough hit. She passed the test, put in the flight hours, got closer to soloing, and then got stopped by a medical clearance issue that now requires a costly evaluation and major lifestyle changes if she wants to continue.
Still, if there is one thing fans know about Jordynne Grace, it is that she is not exactly built to quit. This may have grounded her for now, but she sounds determined to keep fighting until the FAA roadblock turns into nothing more than a bad chapter in a much bigger story.
What do you think about Jordynne Grace’s FAA medical clearance denial? Is the process fair for pilots with ADHD medication history, or does it sound way too harsh? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
