Officials from the US National Transportation Safety Board have revealed more details about the previously reported Lear jet crash that took place in South Carolina on Friday, killing four and injuring Travis Barker and DJ AM, aka Adam Goldstein.
The NTSB weren't able to comment on what actually caused the crash, but they added credibility to the previously reported theory that a burst tyre was responsible by confirming that a cockpit voice recorder had revealed that the pilot and co-pilot thought that a tyre had blown and as a result attempted to abort their take-off. Sadly, they weren't able to stop the plane, and the jet went off the end of the runway, ripped through a fence, and, engulfed in flames, came to a stop on a nearby motorway. NTSB's Debbie Hersman added that pieces of tyre had been recovered from the runway, and that the tyre's manufacturer, Goodyear, are co-operating with their investigations.
Details have also emerged as to Barker and Goldstein's escape from the plane via an interview given by Josh Shumpert of the South Congaree Police Department, the second person to arrive at the scene, who reported that the pair "slid down the wing on the right side of the plane. They said they were on fire, and that they tackled each other and put each other out". He added that by the time he got there, they were pacing the side of the road, and were in shock. The moments after the crash were captured on tape, though you can't hear much. If you want to not hear much for yourself, the recording is, of course, online at uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OWIIeeD7sN0
The two men have, of course, received treatment for second and third degree burns, but were otherwise uninjured and are expected to make a full recovery, although the burns could take up to a year to heal completely. As previously reported, their fellow passengers Chris Baker and Charles Still, pilot Sarah Lemmon and co-pilot James Bland all died in the accident, Baker and Still on impact, Lemmon and Bland from smoke inhalation and burns.
Meanwhile, Barker is reportedly trying to stay positive, despite the loss of two close friends and colleagues, and having undergone several episodes of surgery on his burns. Bill Nosa, a spokesman for the former Blink-182 star's clothing line Famous Stars And Straps, is quoted as saying: "If you make it out of a crash of that magnitude, somebody's looking out for you. He's trying to stay upbeat". Commenting on those who died, the spokesman added that Barker's assistant Baker "was like extended family".
Elsewhere, singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw has expressed his shock at the crash, and the fact that he was with with those who died minutes before their demise. Speaking to US news show Extra, DeGraw said: "The people that you travel with when you're doing this for a living, they become your family. I was shaking somebody's hand who was about to die... That could just as easily been our reality too. You have no idea what your own fate or their fate is going to be".