Above; the crashed jet; bottom left, DJ AM; bottom right, Travis Barker
Blink 182 drummer, Travis Barker, and DJ AM (real name Adam Michael Goldstein) were critically hurt in a plane crash, which killed four people.
In this tragic case, Barker - Paris Hilton’s ex, star of reality show ‘Meet the Barkers‘ and drummer in rock band Blink 182, and DJ AM - Nicole Richie’s ex-fiance, were both passengers on a jet that overshot a runway and crashed, killing all but the two musicians (pictured above).
According to TMZ:
A FAA spokesperson said the plane carrying six people attempted to take off shortly before midnight Friday from Columbia, South Carolina when people in the tower report seeing sparks. They said the plane went off the runway and crashed on a highway embankment, catching fire.
The National Transportation Safety Board held a press conference, to give more details, and stated that the jet overran the runway, hit some lights and an antenna, crashed through a fence and careened across the highway next to the airport. The jet crashed into an embankment where it then caught on fire.
According to the most shocking report so far, the duo were the only two – out of six aboard – who survived, as they heroically jumped out of their burning plane!
Reports also state that the pair were both horribly burned in the crash, Barker from the waist down, AM, was burned on his face. Witnesses say they saw two men, presumably Travis and DJ AM, taking off their clothes and trying to extinguish themselves.
Both are critical, but stable and both are receiving treatment.
The deceased, who sadly passed away from the incident are as follows; Chris Baker, 29, who died along with the pilot Sarah Lemmon, co-pilot James Bland and Charles Still, who was Travis’ bodyguard.
According to TMZ, the reason for the flight is that Barker’s assistant, Lil Chris Baker (R.I.P.) wanted to get home in time to see his wife give birth.
It all started some time yesterday, when Barker’s assistant, Chris Baker, told the guys that his wife was going into labor. Barker told him that he would do everything in his power to get Baker back to the hospital in time.
The quickest way back to Van Nuys was that Learjet. We’re told Barker usually won’t fly on private jets, but made an exception for what was supposed to be one of the happiest moments of Baker’s life.
As an aside 20 SEPT - This accident happened several hours ago. However, sometimes with stories such as this, initial details are sketchy, inflammatory or just plain wrong - so Iike to hold back, wait for more details and get my facts straight, before writing about them.
UPDATE 21 SEPT – Lil Chris’ publicist says TMZ’s earlier story (crossed out above) about Chris rushing home to see his wife giving birth are untrue:
A publicist for Travis Barker and DJ AM contacted TMZ and says our sources are incorrect — that Chris Baker’s wife was not in labor when he died in the plane crash and that was not the reason Travis and the others flew home on a private jet.
The publicist adds, “Both Travis Barker and Adam Goldstein (DJ AM) are in critical but stable condition and are being treated at Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia after surviving a plane crash late last night in Columbia, South Carolina.
The hospital will issue a statement with an update on their condition at 9:00 am eastern time tomorrow. Due to the nature of the injuries and the evolving course of treatment no further information on their condition is available at this time.
FURTHER UPDATE 21 SEPT – The pair are expected to make a full recovery! According to their Doctor, via AJC news:
Dr. Fred Mullins said Sunday morning that both men are being treated for second- and third-degree burns at a Georgia hospital. Mullins says recovery from such burns can take as long as a year but notes the men had no other injuries.
Mullins says Barker was burned on his torso and DJ AM, whose real name is Adam Goldstein, was burned on his hands and part of his head. The doctor says both men are still in critical but stable condition.
[Image courtesy of IDWYL] AmyGrindhouse.com written by Amy Grindhouse © All rights reserved. When quoting, use excerpts with attribution only.
