Travis Barker Critically Injured, 4 Others Killed

[Maxx]

COLUMBIA, S.C. - A Learjet has crashed while departing from a South Carolina airport, killing four people and critically injuring two others including rock band Blink-182's former drummer.

Hospital officials confirmed that Travis Barker, who also starred in MTV reality show "Meet the Barkers", was among those hurt. He was transported to a burn center in Augusta, Georgia, where he was listed in critical condition on Saturday morning.

Barker had performed Friday night at an event alongside Perry Farrell, the former Jane's Addiction singer, as well as Gavin DeGraw and DJ AM.

Hospital officials said that DJ AM, whose real name is Adam Michael Goldstein, had also been admitted to the burn unit in critical condition.

It was not clear whether Farrell and DeGraw were also traveling with Barker and Goldstein.

Federal officials confirmed that two crew members and two passengers were killed in the crash.

Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said the plane carrying six people was departing shortly before midnight Friday from Columbia when air traffic controllers reporting seeing sparks. She said the plane went off the runway and crashed on a nearby road.

Bergen said the Lear 60 was headed to Van Nuys, California. She was unable to confirm the names of those on board.

[IAceI]

Man, Blink 182 are one of my earlier musical memories when I got into less mainstream pop music. I really hope he gets through this well, because he's a true legend for me back when I used to do a bit of drumming.

Get well Trav

[Clawson]

Shite, there could go any chance of them reuniting.

[MDK]

Shite, there could go any chance of them reuniting.

Yeah, that's the really bad news.

[NobBe Nobbs]

Aw fuck, I liked Barker. He was the only guy that made Soulja Boi bearable.

[YI]

Aw fuck, I liked Barker. He was the only guy that made Soulja Boi bearable.

...YOOOOOOOUUUUUUUU!!!!! FUCK OFF!

Personally I'm worried about Gavin DeGraw and the guy from Jane's Addiction etc, the possibility that they may have been two of the fatalities on the plane. If so, then that's fucking shitty.

Either way, yeah it sucks for Barker, but at the same time, 4 other people died. I don't feel it's particuarly fair to focus on him and be all "fuck man, poor Barker"...at least he's fucking alive.

Yeah, it still sucks, though.

Edited September 20, 2008 by YI

[Clawson]

Personally I'm worried about Gavin DeGraw and the guy from Jane's Addiction etc, the possibility that they may have been two of the fatalities on the plane. If so, then that's fucking shitty.

Neither were on the plane.

[YI]

BOOOOO!!!

I wanted to use my "I bet he now wishes he was anything other than what he's been lately" joke.

[Benji]

I haven't got any words that haven't been said or won't be said, but what's scary is that only two nights ago I got into the Expensive Taste mixtape and have been on a proper Transplants kick lately, here's to hoping he pulls through.

[Maxx]

Aw fuck, I liked Barker. He was the only guy that made Soulja Boi bearable.

...YOOOOOOOUUUUUUUU!!!!! FUCK OFF!

Personally I'm worried about Gavin DeGraw and the guy from Jane's Addiction etc, the possibility that they may have been two of the fatalities on the plane. If so, then that's fucking shitty.

Either way, yeah it sucks for Barker, but at the same time, 4 other people died. I don't feel it's particuarly fair to focus on him and be all "fuck man, poor Barker"...at least he's fucking alive.

Yeah, it still sucks, though.

True he's still alive, but "critically injured" and "extensive burns" doesn't exactly sound like he's out of the woods yet

[YI]

Travis Barker's assistant was one of the three people who died in last night's plane crash in Columbia, SC.

Chris Baker, 29, died along with the pilot Sarah Lemmon and co-pilot James Bland, according to WACH. Barker and DJ AM are still in a burn center in Augusta, GA in critical condition.

Gavin Degraw's father has told a local paper in SC Degraw was not on the plane and is still in Columbia.

I read that as "James Bond" at first.

TMZ has learned Travis Barker has been burned from the waist down, but he is expected to survive the plane crash. DJ AM's face was severely burned and is being tended to right now.

We're also told the tragedy is all the worse because one of the passengers who died, Chris Baker, Travis' assistant on "Meet the Barkers," was married recently and has a new baby.

Damn...that's fucking awful...recently married and a father.

Edited September 20, 2008 by YI

[Summers]

Argh.

So bad. Must be crazy bad burns.

Though, he got out lucky.

[Gene Kiniski]

Ah man, that fucking sucks for everyone. I am a huge Travis Barker fan myself so when I heard is name it caught my attention, but I feel for the family of those lost. I hope the best recovery from Travis and DJ AM.

I haven't got any words that haven't been said or won't be said, but what's scary is that only two nights ago I got into the Expensive Taste mixtape and have been on a proper Transplants kick lately, here's to hoping he pulls through.

Where were you when I was trying to pimp that thing 2 summers ago? (Read sig lyrics)

[jrtdot]

OMG RIP to those who passed and hope Barker recovers and is healthy

[Your Mom]

It doesn't look good for DJ AM. A news break on E just said he was burned badly on 50% of his body and extensive damage was done to his face. Barker is fairing better and if I heard right he should pull through.

[Gene Kiniski]

That horrible and not just because of who they are (even though DJ AM is the shit). I hope they both recover fully. I wish DJ AM the best of luck.

[MalaCloudy Black]

A South Carolina coroner has filed a report on what caused the fatalities in the Learjet plane crash that injured Travis Barker and DJ AM on Friday.

Smoke inhalation and burns were the cause of the pilot and co-pilot's deaths, and the impact was what killed the other two passengers - one of them being Chris Baker, Travis' personal assistant.

Authorities also say that the crew was aware that they had a blown tire after their takeoff.

Shanna Moakler, Travis' ex-wife and mother to his son and daughter, has released a statement:

"There are not enough words to express how thankful we are for the outpouring of love and support we have received during this very difficult time. We can only ask for prayers as we heal and mourn the loss of our dear friends who we considered part of our family. Our lives will be changed forever."

[Lint]

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Despite several surgeries for burns over his torso and lower body, former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker is trying to stay positive after a South Carolina plane crash that killed four, including two close friends, a spokesman for the star's clothing company said Tuesday.

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"If you make it out of a crash of that magnitude, somebody's looking out for you," said Bill Nosal, Barker's friend and spokesman for Famous Stars and Straps, a Los Angeles-based clothing and accessory line created by the musician. "He's trying to stay upbeat."

Barker and celebrity disc jockey DJ AM, whose real name is Adam Goldstein, survived the Friday night Learjet crash at the main airport in Columbia, S.C., with second- and third-degree burns. One of their doctors at a Georgia burn hospital said he expects them to fully recover.

Pilot Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim Hills, Calif., and co-pilot James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, Calif., died of smoke inhalation and burns within minutes of the crash into an embankment about a quarter-mile from the end of the airport's runway. A South Carolina coroner has said Chris Baker, 29, of Studio City, Calif.; and Charles Still, 25, of Los Angeles, close friends of the musicians, died on impact.

Baker was an assistant to Barker and "was like extended family," Nosal said. Still was working as a security guard for the musician, who Nosal said didn't always travel with one. They were on a weekend trip to perform for about 10,000 people in a neighborhood near the University of South Carolina.

Barker, 32, was one of the more colorful members of the multiplatinum-selling punk rock band Blink-182, whose biggest album was 1999's CD "Enema of the State" and sold more than 5 million copies in the United States alone. After Blink-182 disbanded in 2005, Barker went on to form the rock band (+44) — pronounced "plus forty-four."

Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board have not said what caused the crash but did say a cockpit voice recorder revealed that crew members thought a tire blew and tried to abort the takeoff but couldn't stop the plane. The Learjet shot off the end of the runway, ripped through a fence and crossed a highway before coming to rest, engulfed in flames.

NTSB member Debbie Hersman has said pieces of tire were recovered from the runway. Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., which made the tires, has said it is cooperating with the investigation.

On Tuesday, National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Peter Knudson said investigators were collecting evidence from the road crossed before the plane slammed into an embankment. Investigators expected to return to Washington on Thursday.

The jet, which was headed for Van Nuys, Calif., is owned by Global Exec Aviation and was certified to operate last year. Officials for the California-based charter company have said they are cooperating with investigators.