Audio reveals air-traffic controller's instructions for pilots, emergency response team.
By Gil Kaufman

Travis Barker and DJ AM
Photo: Michael Loccisano/ FilmMagic

The Federal Aviation Administration has released excerpts of the tapes of the air-traffic control chatter recorded in the lead-up to the devastating plane crash that killed four and resulted in serious injuries to DJ AM and Travis Barker.

In the tapes, obtained by TMZ, air-traffic controllers can be heard asking for clearance for the private jet to take off on its flight to an airport in Van Nuys, California. Everything seems to be going well at first, then a controller at South Carolina's Columbia Metropolitan Airport can be heard saying, "We've had an emergency -- sir, you're not going to be able to land runway 1-1. We've had an emergency -- fly straight ahead."

Sounding increasingly distressed, the controller, apparently speaking to emergency response personnel, then says, "You need to get out there. The aircraft is -- there is a -- flames -- a fire, out on 3-0-2." The pilot of the Learjet 60 aircraft, which investigators believe suffered a blown tire that may have led to the crash, attempted to abort the takeoff, and controllers reported seeing sparks coming from the plane as it veered off the runway. It ended up more than 100 feet past the end of the runway in a smoldering heap after crossing the 302 highway. At one point, the air-traffic controller can be heard saying, "And I'm not sure you can get there via that way, you may have to go outside the airport to get to 'em. ... It went right off the end of 1-1 and right into -- on 302. You can see the smoke, I assume, heading to your right there."

AM and Barker are recovering from the second- and third-degree burns they suffered in the crash, which took the lives of Barker's close friend and assistant, Chris Baker; his bodyguard, Charles "Che" Still; pilot Sarah Lemmon and co-pilot James Bland. AM recently returned to the stage for the first time, appearing with Jay-Z, and on Sunday, Barker made his first televised appearance since the crash on "Total Finale Live," speaking via satellite from his studio in Los Angeles about the challenges of getting behind the drum kit again.

Related Artists Travis Barker DJ A.M.

Source: MTV News Latest Headlines