On August 25, 2001, the music industry was shaken to its core by the tragic loss of American singer and actress Aaliyah along with eight others in a plane crash. The accident, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Marsh Harbour Airport on the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas, has since been dissected through investigations revealing a calamitous confluence of factors.
Aaliyah, who had just wrapped up filming the music video for her song “Rock the Boat,” had reportedly been apprehensive about boarding the small twin-engine Cessna 402B, with one account suggesting she was sedated and carried onto the aircraft unconscious. This unsettling detail underscores the dread the star had for the flight, as described in Kathy Iandoli’s 2021 biography of Aaliyah.
Witnesses at the time reported a heated discussion over the aircraft’s weight between passengers and the pilot, Luis Morales III. The aircraft was late, and the passengers were eager to return to Miami, which seems to have pressured Morales into proceeding with the flight despite his initial warnings that the plane was too heavy for a safe flight.
The investigation later found that the aircraft was over its maximum takeoff weight by more than 900 pounds and was carrying one more passenger than it was certified for. Moreover, the pilot had falsified his experience and wasn’t even approved to fly that type of aircraft for Blackhawk International Airways, the operator. Adding to this, Morales’ toxicology report showed traces of cocaine and alcohol, further compounding the negligence that led to the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) noted that the aircraft’s center of gravity was also beyond its rear limit, significantly affecting its flight capabilities. Maintenance records, not immediately available, were in question as witnesses had reported the engines backfiring and having trouble starting.
The fallout of the crash was vast. Blackhawk International Airways came under severe scrutiny, having been cited multiple times for violations before the crash, including not testing employees for drugs and not complying with maintenance standards. The pilot, Morales, had only been with Blackhawk for two days and was not FAA authorized to fly the aircraft.
Relevant articles:
– 2001 Marsh Harbour Cessna 402 crash