This may help understand John Madden's aviatophobia. John Madden played American football for Santa Barbara College. The football team was in an airplane crash and most of Madden's teammates were killed. Also as head coach of the LA Radiers, he would white knuckle the seat during the flight and his team would make light of his phobia. Players would shake his seat causing him to panic more.
He also does not like elevators which is some cross between claustrophobia and acrophobia.