Travis Barker has flown 30 times since plane crash, credits Kourtney Kardashian
Travis Barker expressed deep gratitude towards his wife, Kourtney Kardashian, for playing a crucial role in his healing process and helping him overcome the trauma of his 2008 plane crash. The renowned Blink-182 drummer took to Instagram’s new app Threads to share his appreciation on Wednesday, revealing that he has now flown 30 times since the incident. Barker acknowledged that without the unwavering love and support from his amazing wife, he wouldn’t be able to enjoy his life or go on tour again. He expressed his love for Kourtney Kardashian in the post.
On September 19, 2008, Barker, who was 47 at the time, survived a horrific plane crash while traveling back to Los Angeles from South Carolina. The crash claimed the lives of his assistant, Chris Baker, his security guard, Charles “Che” Still, and both pilots. Tragically, his best friend, Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein, survived the crash but passed away a year later due to a prescription drug overdose. This devastating accident not only took the lives of Barker’s assistant and security guard but also claimed the lives of the pilots.
Barker spent 11 weeks in the hospital after suffering third-degree burns on over half of his body. He underwent 27 surgeries to repair the extensive damage. Reflecting on the incident during a 2019 interview on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, Barker revealed that when he jumped through the emergency exit during the plane explosion, he accidentally landed inside the jet, which was filled with fuel. This caused his entire body to ignite in flames due to the jet fuel.
In a 2016 interview with Larry King, Barker, who shares two children with his ex-wife, Shanna Moakler, mentioned that he had a foreboding feeling before boarding the ill-fated flight. He recalled his daughter, Alabama, crying hysterically and expressing her fear that the plane’s roof would come off. Barker was puzzled and asked if there had been an earthquake that morning, but his daughter continued to scream and cry out her premonition.
Following the accident, Barker refrained from boarding any airplanes for over a decade, paralyzed by fear. However, everything changed when he began dating Kourtney Kardashian, whom he married in May 2022. Barker credited Kardashian for helping him overcome his fear of flying. In 2021, the couple took a significant step forward when they flew together to Cabo on Kylie Jenner’s private jet. Accompanied by Kris Jenner and her boyfriend, Corey Gamble, this flight marked a major milestone for Barker, who had required extensive support to reach this point.
Barker expressed on Threads that he wouldn’t be able to enjoy life again the way he does without the healing love of his incredible wife. He thanked her for being supportive and understanding, emphasizing that she never pressured him to fly and was perfectly content with traveling within the United States without boarding an airplane.
In a subsequent interview with NYLON, Barker shared that being with Kardashian made him feel invincible. Flying was still a new experience for him, but having someone who provided him with strength and hope to overcome his traumatic past was transformative. He confessed that he had never even considered flying again until he met Kardashian.
Since that pivotal flight in 2021, Barker has continued to explore the world alongside his wife, with her unwavering support. The couple recently announced that they are expecting their first child together, further solidifying their bond and their journey of healing and growth.
Travis Barker expressed gratitude to his wife, Kourtney Kardashian, for helping him heal enough to fly again after his plane crash in 2008.
“Just flew for the 30th time since my plane crash,” the Blink-182 drummer shared via Instagram’s new app Threads Wednesday.
“Wouldn’t be able to tour or enjoy life again the way I do without the healing love of my amazing wife. I love you @kourtneykardash.”
On Sept. 19, 2008, Barker, 47, survived a plane crash that occurred while flying back to Los Angeles from South Carolina.
He was traveling with his assistant, Chris Baker, security guard, Charles “Che” Still and his best friend, Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein.
Both Baker and Still died in the crash, along with both of the pilots.
Goldstein survived the crash, but died a year later from a prescription drug overdose.
Barker was in the hospital for 11 weeks after sustaining third-degree burns on more than half of his body. He underwent 27 separate surgeries to repair the damage.
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“When I jumped through the emergency exit when the plane blew up, I was in such a hurry to exit the plane, I jumped right into the jet, which is full of fuel,” he recalled on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast in 2019.
“My whole body lit up. I had jet fuel in my whole body.”
In a 2016 interview with Larry King, Barker — who shares daughter Alabama and son Landon with his ex-wife, Shanna Moakler — said that he had a bad feeling prior to boarding.
“[Alabama] was hysterically crying that she didn’t want me to fly that day. She said, ‘The roof is going to come off,’ and I was like, ‘What happened? Was there an earthquake this morning? What triggered this?’ She just kept screaming it and crying it.”
The rocker didn’t step foot on an airplane for over a decade after the tragedy. However, that changed he began dating Kardashian, whom he married in May 2022.
In 2021, Barker joined the Poosh founder for a flight to Cabo on her sister Kylie Jenner’s private jet. Kris Jenner and her boyfriend, Corey Gamble, also made the trip.
A source told People at the time that the moment was a big step for the musician.
“It’s a huge deal that Travis flew to Cabo. The plane crash many years ago was extremely traumatizing. He has needed a lot of help to get to this point,” an insider told the outlet.
“Kourtney has been very supportive. She never pushed for him to fly. They have managed to travel in the US without having to fly, and Kourtney has been totally fine with it.”
A month after the flight, Barker told NYLON that Kardashian, 44, made him feel “invincible.”
“[Flying is] still something very new to me, but having something that gives me the strength and hope to be able to overcome things that were so traumatic in my life, it just says a ton,” he said.
“She’s definitely that for me. I’m invincible when I’m with her. It’s just, like, I never dreamed, I never even considered flying again.”
Since embarking on that pivotal flight in 2021, Barker has continued to travel around the world with his wife by his side.
The two are expecting their first child together.
