Shortly before 7 pm ET, Aaliyah, the famous Timbaland produced R&B singer, and budding movie star, was killed with seven others Saturday, when the small private plane in, which they were traveling, crashed after takeoff.
The singer was returning to United States after shooting a video in the Bahamas, when the Cessna 402, which had just lifted off from the Marsh Harbor airport on Abaco Island and was en route to Opa-locka, Florida, went down.
Unfortunately, the cause of the crash was not immediately known. However, there are reports the pilot had asked the passengers to leave behind some of their luggage because the plane’s load was already too heavy, but the passengers refused.
There were nine people on the plane, eight of whom perished in the crash. The only survivor, Anthony Dodd, 34, of Los Angeles, was airlifted to a Nassau trauma center in critical condition. The identities of the other victims have yet to be disclosed but officials did confirm that two women and six men were killed. No word yet if video director, Hype Williams, was on the plane as well.
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Bahamian aviation officials have launched an investigation into the tragedy. Reps for Aaliyah could not be reached for comment.
She was born Aaliyah Dana Haughton in Brooklyn on January 16, 1979, and grew up in Detroit. She died at the age of 22.
HipHopDX would like to send condolences to Aaliyah’s family as well as the family of all the other victims.
Aaliyah RIP 1979