Aaliyah, the influential R&B artist and actress, died on August 25, 2001. She was among eight people killed when a Cessna 402B twin-engine plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Marsh Harbour Airport in the Bahamas, where the group had just completed filming the music video for “Queen of the Damned.” The crash occurred around 6:50p.m. Eastern Time, in clear weather and near the end of the runway. The pilot, Luis Morales III, and six other passengers also died, while one person survived with injuries. This summary outlines the date, location, aircraft type and key circumstances that are consistently reported by authoritative sources.
The date of death
Aaliyah’s death occurred on August 25, 2001. The accident happened in the evening at Marsh Harbour Airport on Great Abaco Island, The Bahamas. Official accident reports and contemporaneous news coverage corroborate this date, marking the end of a career that had begun in the late 1980s and ascended through the 1990s with landmark albums such as Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number (1994), One in a Million (1996) and Aaliyah (2001).
Location and aircraft
Marsh Harbour Airport crash site
The crash occurred shortly after liftoff from Marsh Harbour Airport (IATA: MYS). The Cessna 402B, a twin-engine light aircraft, was overloaded and experienced a runway excursion before impacting structures near the airport. Investigators cited a combination of aircraft weight, center-of-gravity concerns and environmental factors in the accident. This location is consistently referenced in official reports and news documentation.
Cause and contributing factors
The crash was attributed to multiple factors, including the aircraft’s excessive weight, an improperly calculated center of gravity and pilot error. Toxicology reports also revealed the presence of alcohol in the pilot’s system. These findings appear in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) report and have been widely reported by credible news outlets, transportation authorities and aviation safety organizations.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Date of death | August 25, 2001 | Official reports, contemporaneous news |
| Location | Marsh Harbour Airport, Great Abaco, The Bahamas | NTSB, news coverage |
| Aircraft | Cessna 402B twin-engine light plane | Investigation reports, operator records |
| Occupants | 8 fatalities (including pilot); 1 survivor | Official lists, news |
| Key factors | Overweight, CG issues, pilot error, alcohol present | NTSB report |
Context and career significance
The accident occurred shortly after the completion of the “Queen of the Damned” video shoot, truncating the promotion of the soundtrack album and cutting short a career marked by rapid growth and evolving artistry. At the time of the crash, Aaliyah was 22 years old, with a discography that bridged pop, R&B and hip-hop influences. The posthumous release of her self-titled album in July 2001 and continued streaming, reissues and tributes maintain a durable legacy in popular music.
Verifying facts: Why timelines matter
Consistent, sourced reporting confirms that the date of death is August 25, 2001, and the location was the Bahamas. Misinformation sometimes circulates online, making it important to refer to investigative reports and authoritative publications. Cross-checking aviation records and news archives provides clarity and protects against speculation. Accurate timelines support informed discussion of an artist’s impact and the circumstances that shape legacies.