On September 19, 2008, DJ AM was critically injured in a plane crash in South Carolina. Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker was also critically injured in the plane crash. They suffered severe burns and were transported to the Joseph Still Burn Center in Georgia.MTV News: DJ AM, Travis Barker Critically Injured In Plane Crash (September 20, 2008)
DJ AM was held in critical but stable condition and was placed in an incubator to help prevent infection.E Online: Barker, AM "Really Badly Burned" (September 20, 2008) On September 26, 2008, DJ AM was released from the hospital.People: DJ AM Released From Hospital (September 26, 2008)
In March of the following year, DJ AM sued the company who had secured the flight for 20 million dollars in damages and for lost wages.TMZ: DJ AM Lawsuit (March 16, 2009)
On August 28, 2009, DJ AM was found dead in his home of an accidental drug overdose. According to People magazine, the plane crash may have led DJ AM, who was a recovering drug addict, to pick up drugs again.http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20301856,00.html
NTSB Findings: Cause of The Crash
On April 6, 2010, the National Transportation Safety Board released some of its findings after having completed the investigation into the plane crash that seriously injured DJ AM and Travis Barker.http://www.tmz.com/2010/04/06/travis-barker-dj-am-airplane-crash-tires-underinflated/ The NTSB* found, in part, that the plane's wheels were under-inflated. This is thought to have caused a tire rupture that occured during the plane's initial takeoff back in September of 2008.
During a news conference, the NTSB stated that "the underinflated tires seriously affected the stopping capability of the aircraft."http://www.tmz.com/2010/04/06/travis-barker-dj-am-airplane-crash-tires-underinflated/
During the takeoff of the airplane, once the tire had ruptured, the pilot was notified of this problem within the cockpit. However, because of this, the pilot then decided to abort the takeoff. TMZ reports that doing this is something that "training discourages" and that the pilot perhaps would have been better off proceeding with the takeoff even with the tire damage.http://www.tmz.com/2010/04/06/travis-barker-dj-am-airplane-crash-tires-underinflated/ Because of the tire damage that the craft had sustained, the plane had a drastically reduced ability to stop itself when the brakes were applied.http://www.tmz.com/2010/04/06/travis-barker-dj-am-airplane-crash-tires-underinflated/
Travis Barker, DJ AM of Blink182 Critically Injured in Plane Crash!
This is a live news report from WIS-TV, in Columbia, South Carolina after the plane crash that DJ AM was involved in . The remnants of the plane can be seen clearly in this video coverage. There are also recounts of what the eyewitnesses saw during the crash and its aftermath.
References
Fast Facts
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Date
September 19, 2008, just before midnight
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Fact:
Both DJ AM and Travis Barker were in critical condition on the morning of Saturday, September 20, 2008MTV News: DJ AM, Travis Barker Critically Injured In Plane Crash (September 20, 2008)
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Fact:
Taken to the Joseph Still Burn Center, in Augusta, Georgia
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Fact:
DJ AM was transported to the burn center by helicopter, Barker was taken by ambulance
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Fact:
Had just performed at a concert with Perry Farrell and Gavin DeGraw
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Fact:
DJ AM suffered severe burns to his face and Barker was burned from the waist downTMZ: UPDATE (September 20, 2008)
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Fact:
Six people on the plane, four were killed
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Death
August 28, 2009
