Plane crash facts are emerging
The pilot and co-pilot killed in a Learjet crash in South Carolina on Friday died from smoke inhalation and burns, and two passengers were killed from the impact, officials said Monday.
Remarkably, former Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker and celebrity disc jockey DJ AM survived the Friday night crash with second- and third-degree burns. One of their doctors at a Georgia burn hospital said he expects them to fully recover.
Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board said they have not determined what caused the crash. However, they said a cockpit voice recorder revealed that crew members thought a tire blew and tried to abort the takeoff but couldn’t stop the plane.
The Learjet 60, en route to Van Nuys, shot off the end of the runway, ripped through a fence and crossed a highway before coming to rest, engulfed in flames. All six people aboard lived in the L.A. area.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
