Barker will fly again – for his kids

Fighting fear: Barker, right, with Blink 182

Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker may rethink plans to sideline himself for his band’s upcoming tour of Australia due to his fear of flying.

He narrowly escaped with his life in 2008 when a private jet he’d hired with collaborator DJ:AM crashed on takeoff, killing four of the six people on board. It was later revealed Barker’s injuries nearly killed him too. DJ:AM later died as a result of becoming addicted to the medications prescribed for him after the accident.

Barker, 36, recently said his reluctance to board a plane meant a stand-in would have to be hired when the three-piece played down under.

But after fans pleaded with him to change his mind, he says he’s considering flying after all – although he’ll do it under sedation.

The drummer says: “I’m contemplating getting knocked out and getting on a plane to Australia. I want to overcome that eventually for me – and my kids are scared to death to fly. I want them to witness me overcome it.”

He’s researched which service he might use and concludes:  “I think it’s going to be Qantas. They never had a crash, never had a fatality… knock on wood.”

In November 2008 the Learjet 60 hired by Barker and DJ:AM careered off its South Carolina runway, ran into an embankment and burst into flames. Along with two crewmen, Barker’s personal assistant and bodyguard were killed. The vehicle’s owners settled out of court the following year. The events were later hailed by Blink 182 as fuelling their 2009 reunion.