MTV News

DJ AM And Travis Barker Critically Injured In Private Plane Crash In South Carolina

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 12:55 AM PDT

Barker's assistant, security guard, two others killed in crash.
By Gil Kaufman and Chris Harris

Travis Barker performs at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards
Photo: Jeff Kravitz/ FilmMagic.com

Former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and DJ AM were critically injured in a plane crash Friday night in Columbia, South Carolina. The plane's four other passengers were killed.

Lexington County Deputy Coroner Brian Setree confirmed for MTV News on Saturday morning (September 20) that three men and a woman died in the crash. The victims were: Barker's assistant, Chris "Little Chris" Baker, 29, of Studio City, California; Barker's security guard, Charles Still, 25, of Los Angeles; the plane's pilot, Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim, California; and her co-pilot, James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, California. While TMZ originally reported that Baker, who appeared on MTV's reality show "Meet the Barkers," was newly married and that his wife recently gave birth, it reported late Saturday that she was about to give birth, and the fatal flight was booked was so Baker could be with her as soon as possible. TMZ reported that Baker's wife went into labor Saturday morning.

Barker and AM had just performed at a free T-Mobile-sponsored show in the Five Points area, along with Perry Farrell and headliner Gavin DeGraw. Though early reports had suggested that DeGraw may have been on the plane at the time of the crash, DeGraw's father, Wayne, told MTV News that he'd spoken to his son Saturday morning and that he was fine. Farrell's manager, Peter Katsis, confirmed that Farrell was not on the plane.

Beth Frits, a spokesperson for the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia, confirmed that AM (born Adam Goldstein) and Barker were transported to a hospital in Columbia following the crash. They were transferred — AM by helicopter and Barker by ambulance — to the Still Center soon after. She told CNN that both men had "extensive burns."

According to TMZ.com, Barker sustained burns from the waist down, while AM suffered facial burns; UsMagazine.com reported that AM was in a doctor-induced coma and will undergo skin grafts. Both sites cited unnamed sources; MTV News was unable to confirm those reports at press time.

On Saturday afternoon, members of both men's families were reportedly traveling to Georgia to be with them.

The crash took place just before midnight on Friday and involved a twin-engine private Learjet with six passengers onboard, according to Lynne Douglas, public information officer for the Columbia Metro Airport. While taking off, the plane, which never left the ground, overran the runway, struck an antenna array and several lights, and began sending up sparks. It skidded off the end of the runway, through a perimeter fence separating the airfield from a nearby roadway, and then crossed the roadway, coming to a stop on an embankment. The plane caught fire on impact. Douglas said two passengers — who were later confirmed to be AM and Barker — escaped the aircraft while it was on the ground, while the other two passengers and crew members died in the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed these details during a press conference, which was held shortly after 11:30 a.m. Saturday. A 10-member team from the NTSB, along with investigators from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is on the scene, trying to determine what caused the crash. Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen described the post-crash fire as "significant."

An eyewitness told NBC news affiliate WIS that he saw a fireball crossing the road near the airport and then realized it was a plane. He saw jet fuel shoot out across the roadway and then saw two men, who were both on fire, patting each other down to extinguish the flames.

Barker, 32, and DJ AM, 35, were the house band for the 2008 VMAs.

[This story was originally published at 10:14 a.m. ET.]

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Travis Barker, DJ AM Escape Plane Crash

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 12:46 AM PDT

Moakler rushes to hospital in Georgia, her mother tells People.com.
By Chris Harris

Travis Barker and Shanna Moakler
Photo: Adrian Sidney/ WireImage

Shanna Moakler, the ex-wife of Travis Barker and the mother of their 4-year-old son, Landon, and 2-year-old daughter, Alabama, left for Georgia Saturday morning (September 20) to be by the former Blink-182 drummer's side, People.com reports. Barker is being treated for "extensive burns" at the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia, which he sustained Friday night in a plane crash in Columbia, South Carolina, that killed four people. DJ AM (born Adam Goldstein) is also being treated for serious burns resulting from the accident.

According to Barker's former mother-in-law, Gail Moakler, who spoke to People.com Saturday afternoon, Moakler is "totally crushed," adding that, "Our heart pours out. We're hoping he recovers. The family is rallying around him and saying our prayers."

Meanwhile, AM's sister, Lara, and her husband, Benjamin Long, are also on their way to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center, after learning of the crash from AM's mother.

"We're in shock," Benjamin Long told the site. "Nobody expects something like this. We're waiting to hear more."

AM's former fiancee, Nicole Richie, "is in shock," UsMagazine.com reported on Saturday, citing an unidentified "pal" of RIchie's. "She wishes only the best for Adam and hopes he recovers from this," the friend reportedly told the site. "She's horribly upset about the people who died." The friend added that Richie's current beau, Good Charlotte's Joel Madden, "knows Travis and also feels terrible and hopes they recover. This is terrible news for both of them."

Just before midnight on Friday, a twin-engine private Learjet carrying AM, Barker, his assistant and body guard was scheduled to depart for Van Nuys, California, according to the National Transportation Safety Board. While taking off, the plane overran the runway, struck an antenna array and several lights and began sending up sparks. It skidded off the end of the runway, crossed a roadway and crashed into an embankment. The plane caught fire on impact.

Lexington County Deputy Coroner Brian Setree confirmed for MTV News on Saturday morning that three men and a woman were killed in the crash: the plane's pilot, Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim, California; co-pilot James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, California; Barker's assistant, Chris "Little Chris" Baker, 29, of Studio City, California; and Barker's security guard, Charles Still, 25, of Los Angeles.

According to People, Barker's children are unaware that their father has been injured, and Gail Moakler claims Barker and Moakler are still very close. "There's still love between them," she said. "She spends a lot of time with him. Their priorities are their kids. We're waiting a bit to see what God brings. Shanna spoke to Travis last night. He was defiant after the accident and didn't want to be lifted in a helicopter, but rather an ambulance, so they had to knock him out."

Long said AM's family is thankful the DJ was able to escape the plane with Barker. The two exited the plane, and according to one eyewitness, ran from the crash site and patted each other down to extinguish the flames.

"The whole thing is crazy," Long said. "We feel horrible about those who didn't [survive]. It's just awful."

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Travis Barker, DJ AM Escape Plane Crash

Posted: 20 Sep 2008 05:49 AM PDT

'It's times like these that we are reminded -- in the worst possible way -- to honor life,' Fall Out Boy say in statement.
By James Montgomery

Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz
Photo: Steve Granitz/ WireImage

In the wake of Friday's plane crash, which killed four people and critically injured Travis Barker and DJ AM, reactions from the artists' families and musical colleagues began to arrive at MTV News. Barker's assistant, Chris "Little Chris" Baker, 29 (who appeared on MTV's reality show "Meet the Barkers"), and his security guard, Charles Still, 25, were among the people who died in the crash.

The unusual combination of friends and colleagues — Fall Out Boy, Beanie Sigel, Lindsay Lohan, Samantha Ronson, Cobra Starship's Gabe Saporta and even MTV News' Tim Kash -- is a telling reflection of Barker and AM's wide circle of friends.

Fall Out Boy, who toured with Barker's +44 in 2007, said in a statement that they reacted to news of the crash with "deep sadness," and extended their sympathies to the families of those who were in the crash.

"Our band would like to reach out and put those who were a part of this tragedy and their families in our prayers, and as well our continued support for the recovery of those who survived," the statement reads. "It's times like these that we are reminded -- in the worst possible way -- to honor life. Chris [Baker] was a rad guy. He always had a way to get us to smile on tour, no matter what situation we were in, and he was truly beloved.

"In the next few days, more information will emerge and we will more fully understand the extent of this terrible tragedy," the statement continues. "In the meantime, we want to encourage anyone reading this to simply tell the people you love how you feel."

Philadelphia rapper Beanie Siegel, who recently collaborated with Barker on a few songs, told MTV News that he learned of the crash from his manager.

"I was just with Travis and the whole squad in Vegas," he said. "Man, that [news of the tragedy] took me like, 'Wow.' It's just a blessing he survived. It got me thinking, like, 'Is it all worth it?' This lifestyle and all the traveling we do.

"It was cool working with [Barker]," Sig added. "We didn't sit in the studio together, but I laid [down] my vocals and sent it to him. He called back and said he loved the record. He said he wanted to do the music over and make the record we did have an even bigger sound."

Lindsay Lohan and DJ Samantha Ronson, friends of Barker and AM, posted messages of support on their blogs.

Writing on her MySpace celebrity blog, Lohan led by saying "horrible news" and went on to write, "please send your prayers out to adam goldstein and travis barker -- along with the others lost in the plane crash ... it's so scary to think that life can end so fast ... we must all treasure each and every moment -- and be thankful for what we have. all my love ... xoxo L."

On her MySpace blog, Ronson led with a sad emoticon and then said: "my good friend adam (dj am) was in a plane crash last night, he was lucky to survive but is still in the hospital being treated for burns (so i read). i don't really know what to say, it's such horrifying news, but i was hoping you guys would please send him your best wishes/ prayers because I don't really know what else to do. also for travis barker, who was on the plane. four other people were on the plane and did not survive, i can't even imagine the pain their families must be in. soooooo sad and i'm so sorry. take good care of yourselves, samantha xo."

(MTV News' Tim Kash wrote about his friendship with Barker and DJ AM on the Newsroom Blog.)

Several of the artists MTV News contacted on Saturday were too stunned by the news to comment right away. Gabe Saporta of Cobra Starship, who also toured with +44, reflected those feelings by saying, "Chris was an awesome dude and I'm shocked and saddened that this happened. I just don't know what else to say beyond that."

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