Travis Barker's gut-wrenching confession about aftermath of deadly plane crash that he miraculously survived
In September 2008, Travis Barker survived a catastrophic plane crash that killed two friends, the pilot and the co-pilot.
This week, fans watched the musician - who refused to fly for 13 years afterwards - reflect on his narrow escape as part of his new Hulu documentary, Louder Than Fear.
"I broke all of my ribs," the 50-year-old recalled. "Fractured my back in four different places... 65% of my body was burned."
Barker had travelled from Los Angeles to South Carolina the day before the crash, where he and pal Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein had been scheduled to perform a concert at the state's university.
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He and Goldstein were set to return to LA the following day, but being in such a hurry to get back to LA, they chartered a last-minute private jet.
The pair were also travelling with Barker's assistant, Chris 'Lil Chris' Baker, and bodyguard Charles 'Che' Still.
How did the plane crash?
Sarah Lemmon would pilot the aircraft, alongside her co-pilot, James Bland.
While taking off from Columbia Metropolitan Airport, however, a tyre failure sent sparks emanating from the jet, sending it off the end of the runway.
The plane then smashed through an airport boundary fence, crossed the highway and hit an embankment, bursting into flames, killing Still and Baker upon impact. The pilots died of smoke inhalation and burns following the crash.
Only Barker and Goldstein initially survived the crash.
As well as severe burns, Barker - who remained in hospital for 11 weeks after - told documentary viewers his 'brain wasn’t functioning', adding: "I was on morphine and all sorts of medicine, so I didn’t really understand the severity of it all.
"They couldn’t do any more surgeries, and I was low on blood. There was talk of amputating my foot."
The Blink-182 rocker underwent a total of 27 surgeries, as well as multiple skin grafts.
"I was in a lot of pain," Barker reflected. "They couldn’t get my pain management right, so I was freaking out."
Barker's heartbreaking admission
In a poignant confession, he told viewers, becoming visibly emotional: "Throughout years of grief and trauma, and trying to figure out how and why everything happens, what I’ve learned is that life’s just not for certain.
"Every day I open my eyes, I’m reminded of walking away from a plane crash where four people passed away."
Barker added: "Then AM passed away less than a year later. But I’ve also accepted who I am now...
"I think I’ve figured out a way to carry on and live my best in their memory."
Another tragic loss
Less than a year after the crash, Goldstein, who also suffered burns, died following an accidental overdose, aged 36.
He'd been on painkillers and anti-anxiety medication, which friends and family believe triggered a reliance on harder drugs he'd previously used.
In the documentary, Barker claimed it was 'beyond difficult to relate to anybody' following Goldstein's death.
Admitting he 'definitely' had survivor's guilt, the father-of-three added: "I felt like I was in Final Destination, and I was next."
The drummer also recalled talking to Goldstein before his death, who Barker says told him, 'I feel like I don’t have much to live for, and it’s really f*****g with me. You’ve got kids, you’ve got a lot to live for'.
Reflecting on how he coped, Barker revealed: "I would sleep in [my son] Landon’s bed, and then [my daughter] Alabama’s bed. I would go back and forth.
"I was with them everywhere I went. [My kids] were the best thing for my recovery."
His return to the runway
It wouldn't be until 2021 that Barker would fly in a plane - or let his children fly - again, following his marriage to reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian, who he says aided his recovery.
"I had this force within me that I didn’t want to be restricted by anything anymore," he said. "There’s nothing that’s going to have power over me.
"I just knew that if I could do this, I could do it not just for myself but also for my children, and they could overcome it."
Topics: Celebrity, US News, Kourtney Kardashian, Entertainment, Documentaries
Rhianna Benson