In September 2008, Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker survived one of the most terrifying moments of his life when a private jet crashed and erupted into flames moments after takeoff. Barker and his friend, DJ AM, were the only two survivors among the six people aboard. Both men suffered severe burns, but their escape from the wreckage was almost unbelievably close to death. Barker later revealed that he had a strange feeling about the flight before boarding, making the tragedy even more chilling.
Barker Had a Bad Feeling About the Flight
Barker already had a fear of flying and felt particularly uneasy about the small Learjet before boarding it in South Carolina. He later recalled seeing the aircraft and immediately feeling that something was wrong. In fact, he called his father before the flight and asked him to make sure his children would be taken care of if anything happened to him. Despite those concerns, Barker eventually boarded the plane with DJ AM and two members of his team.
The Plane Failed During Takeoff
The Learjet 60 had barely begun its takeoff when something went horribly wrong. Air traffic controllers saw sparks coming from the aircraft, and the crew realized there was a problem with one of the tires. The pilots attempted to abort the takeoff, but the plane was already traveling too quickly to stop safely. It continued beyond the runway, crashed through a fence and crossed a nearby highway before hitting an embankment and bursting into flames.
Barker Jumped Into the Flames
Barker’s escape was extraordinarily dangerous. After the crash, he opened an emergency exit and managed to get out of the aircraft, sliding down the wing. However, he was covered in jet fuel and his body immediately caught fire. He began running desperately as he tried to escape the flames. Eventually, he followed instructions to stop, drop and roll, but the fire continued to burn. The drummer was left with devastating injuries from the inferno.
DJ AM Helped Save His Life
DJ AM, whose real name was Adam Goldstein, also managed to escape the wreckage and played a crucial role in helping Barker. After getting out of the burning aircraft, Goldstein saw that Barker was still on fire and helped extinguish the flames by smothering him. Goldstein suffered burns himself while doing so, but his actions helped prevent Barker from sustaining even more serious injuries. The two men then remained outside the wreckage until emergency responders arrived.
Four People Lost Their Lives
Barker and DJ AM were incredibly fortunate, but the crash was devastating. The other four people aboard the aircraft were killed, including both pilots, Barker’s personal assistant Chris Baker and his security guard Charles Still. Baker and Still were close friends of the drummer, making the tragedy even more painful. Barker later struggled enormously with survivor’s guilt and the emotional consequences of knowing that he had survived while people close to him had not.
Barker Suffered Horrific Injuries
The crash left Barker with burns covering approximately 65 percent of his body, along with other serious injuries. He spent around 11 weeks in the hospital and underwent numerous operations during his recovery. The physical pain was accompanied by profound psychological trauma, and Barker has since described experiencing intense survivor’s guilt and fear after the accident. His recovery was not simply about healing his wounds but learning how to live with what had happened.
He Refused to Fly for Years
The crash completely changed Barker’s relationship with flying. For 13 years, he avoided airplanes altogether, traveling by other means whenever possible. The fear was so intense that even the thought of getting back on a plane could trigger memories of the accident. Eventually, with support and therapy, Barker decided to confront that fear. In 2021, he finally flew again for the first time since the crash, marking an important step in his recovery.
He Eventually Found a Way Forward
Although the crash permanently changed Barker’s life, he has gradually learned to move beyond the trauma. His relationship with Kourtney Kardashian, his family and his return to touring have all played important roles in his healing. Barker has also spoken about honoring the people he lost by continuing to live fully. More than a decade after the accident, he was able to fly again and return to performing with Blink 182, turning an unimaginable tragedy into a story of survival and resilience.
Featured image: Will Fisher from Richmond, VA, United States, CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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