Travis Barker has conquered his fear of flying after a traumatic experience that almost killed him. And it’s all thanks to girlfriend Kourtney Kardashian.
The couple was photographed on Saturday, August 14, as they boarded Kylie Jenner’s private jet at an airport in Camarillo and later landed in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. The 45-year-old drummer feared flying as a child and it was the first time he flew again since he survived a plane crash in South Carolina last September 2008.
The Daily Mail posted the couple’s photos during their departure and arrival. They were later joined on board by momager Kris Jenner and her boyfriend Corey Gamble.
Travis’ tragic plane crash experience 13 years ago left him with third-degree burns and killed four people. The Blink-184 drummer was hospitalized for three months and had to undergo 26 surgeries. He survived the crash together with his friend, Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein who also suffered from severe burns. Based on the drummer’s memoir which was released in 2015, DJ AM put out the flames on his body. He dies from drug overdose less than a year later at the age of 36.
Since then, Travis would take tour buses or cruise ship to reach his concert locations. After dating Kourtney, fans were surprised by his tweet in June stating that he might fly again.
During an interview with Men’s Health in June, Travis opened up about his PTSD from the crash and said that whenever he “saw a plane [in the sky],” he “was determined it was going to crash.”
However, he didn’t give up all hopes of flying again. He added, “I have to. I want to make the choice to try and overcome it.”
Travis has two children namely Landon, 17, and Alabama, 15. He also helped in raising his stepdaughter, 22-year-old Atiana De La Hoya. He told the magazine, “If I do it, and the angels above help me in my travels and keep me safe, I would like to come back and [tell my children], ‘Hey, I just flew here, and then I flew home. And everything was fine.’ I have to tell them, because I almost left them.”
In addition to conquering his fear of flying, Kourtney also helped him another phobia: heights. They went on a trip to Utah and one of the activities they had included crossing the canyons through a suspended bridge.
