Travis Barker In Critical Condition After Plane Crash

21st September 2008 | by Aidan Williamson

Ex-Blink 182 drummer - and current percussionist for +44 - Travis Barker was involved in a horrific aeroplane crash on Friday night which left four people dead.

Barker had been performing a free Friday-night college event with former Jane's Addiction singer Perry Farrell, Gavin DeGraw and DJ AM. DJ AM, whose real name is Adam Michael Goldstein was also on board the flight and also suffered serious injuries.

The remainder of the six on the flight - who all sadly passed away - were pilot Sarah Lemmon, 31, of Anaheim Hills, CA; co-pilot James Bland, 52, of Carlsbad, CA; security guard Charles Still, 25, of Los Angeles; and Barker's assistant Chris Baker, 29, also of Los Angeles.

The Learjet the six were on crashed just after its take-off from Columbia, South Carolina. Both Barker and Goldstein were taken to a burns unit in Augusta, Georgia. Both were listed as being in a critical, but stable condition.

Lynne Douglas, the spokesperson for Columbian Metropolitan Airport said of the tragedy: "The plane crashed on takeoff and went through a fence near Highway 302, then crossed the road and went up an embankment before being filled with flames. There was debris all over the runway. We are closed now and hope to reopen later today."

Air-traffic controllers reported seeing sparks as the plane initiated its take-off along the runway. The flight was bound for Van Nuys in California.