Aaliyah: 25 years since fatal plane crash and final messages revealed

On the 25th anniversary of her death, details regarding R&B singer Aaliyah’s final moments have resurfaced. Her former boyfriend, Damon Dash, revealed that the singer expressed anxiety about the aircraft shortly before the fatal crash. According to Dash, Aaliyah sent a text stating, ‘I don’t like the plane,’ but decided to board to complete her music video shoot for ‘Rock the Boat’ in the Bahamas.

The crash occurred on August 25, 2001, when a Cessna 402B took off from Marsh Harbour, Bahamas, and crashed less than a minute later. All nine people on board, including Aaliyah and her crew, were killed. Subsequent investigations identified several critical factors: the aircraft was significantly overweight by approximately 700 pounds, the weight distribution was improper, and the pilot, Luis Antonio Morales, lacked the necessary certification for that specific aircraft type. Additionally, toxicology reports found traces of alcohol and cocaine in the pilot's system.

Aaliyah, who was 22 at the time, remains a significant cultural icon, remembered for her unique R&B sound and fashion influence.