Travis Barker opens up on plane crash trauma after recent disasters: 'It’s hard for me to get on flights'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Travis Barker has revealed his ongoing fear of flying, which has been reignited by recent aviation disasters, years after he narrowly survived a deadly 2008 plane crash.

In September 2008, Travis Barker and Adam "DJ AM" Goldstein were aboard a private Learjet that crashed in Columbia, South Carolina, and the aircraft caught fire during takeoff, leading to the deaths of four of the six passengers onboard. Barker and Goldstein were the only survivors.

Travis Barker reflects on life-changing crash and painful recovery

Barker suffered severe burns on over 65% of his body from the crash and endured a grueling recovery process, including 16 surgeries, numerous skin grafts, and 11 weeks in the hospital.

The traumatic event left Barker with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and, for years, he vowed never to fly again.

He only broke that promise in 2021 when he flew to Mexico with his now-wife, Kourtney Kardashian, in what he described as a major step toward overcoming his fears.

Recent plane crashes reignite Travis Barker’s fears

Travis Barker recently admitted in an interview with Fox News that the recent air disasters in January 2025 triggered his trauma all over again.

On January 29, a US Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair with an American Airlines passenger plane over the Potomac River, killing all 67 people onboard.

Just days later, a medical jet crashed in a Philadelphia neighborhood, taking the lives of all six passengers, including a mother and her young daughter.

"It actually doesn't help me move past it; it makes it much worse," Barker said.

"I almost didn't come [to New Orleans] because of it. It’s hard for me to get on flights. I do it sober. I don’t need to take anything, but it just gets harder and harder. Especially when your biggest fears, like, you start to see them come to life in reality," he added.

The musician elaborated on how these recent tragedies have reinforced his worst fears.

"You tell yourself, ‘These things never happen.’ And then, lately, it feels like we’re seeing them happen almost every day," he said.

Travis Barker opens up on fatherhood and music providing stability

Despite his fears, Travis Barker finds comfort in his growing family.

In November 2023, he and Kourtney Kardashian welcomed their first child together, a son named Rocky Thirteen Barker.

The drummer, who also shares two older children, Landon and Alabama, with ex-wife Shanna Moakler, said being a father is the most rewarding part of his life.

"Baby Rocky is amazing," Barker gushed. "He’s already playing drums, guitar, walking, and running everywhere. He’s the coolest kid ever," he shared.

Barker emphasized that raising his children provides him with a sense of purpose.

"The most rewarding thing is starting and ending my day with my kids. That’s my goal—to be present for them and kiss them goodnight," said the drummer.