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Crashed Jet's Flight Records Reveal No Prior Problems

FAA flight record shows that two-year-old jet flew without incident earlier in the day

By Ken Baker Sep 21, 2008 12:48 AMTags
DJ AM, Travis Barker plane crashAP Photo

Federal Aviation Administration flight records for the Learjet that crashed and burned last night in South Carolina, obtained exclusively by E! News, reveal that the two-year-old jet carrying Travis Barker, DJ AM and four others had flown without incident less than hour before the crash.

We have learned that the 11-seat jet, which was registered with the FAA out of Irvine, Calif., had recently been housed in a hangar in Teterboro, N.J., that is used mostly by corporate clients.

According to flight records, the jet made a routine one-hour, 26-minute flight from Teterboro to Columbia (S.C.) Metropolitan Airport Friday night, arriving at 11:08 p.m.

Less than an hour later, shortly before midnight, the plane attempted takeoff en route to Van Nuys and crashed before taking flight.

"Something must have gone wrong on the ground," says an FAA source. "It appears the plane had no mechanical issues."

The jet had made several flights recently in California, Arizona, New Jersey and Kansas.

Global Exec Aviation LLC, which operated the doomed jet, said in a statement today that it is working with FAA officials to determine exactly what led to the crash:

"We wish to express our deepest condolences to the passengers and families affected by this tragic accident that occurred last evening in Columbia, South Carolina. Our thoughts and prayers are for a complete and speedy recovery for the surviving passengers, Mr. Barker and Mr. Goldstein.

"The focus of our efforts at this time is to support and attend to the needs of our passengers, our crews and their families and work with the [National Transportation Safety Board], FAA and local public safety officials to determine the cause of this accident."