​​Where were you then: Aug. 25, 2001, the day Aaliyah’s life was cut short

On Aug. 25, 2001, Aaliyah Dana Haughton — known to the world simply as Aaliyah — was killed when a small twin-engine Cessna 402B crashed shortly after takeoff from Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas. She had just wrapped filming the music video for her single "Rock the Boat," part of her self-titled third album.

According to The New York Times, the plane went down less than a minute after takeoff and was about 700 pounds overloaded. The paper reported that Aaliyah and five others died instantly, while three more passengers later died of their injuries. She was 22 years old.

The backstory:

A 2003 coroner’s inquest revealed Aaliyah’s official cause of death included "severe burns and a blow to the head," CBS News reported at the time. The pathologist testified that the pilot, Luis Antonio Morales, was not certified to fly the Cessna 402B and had traces of cocaine and alcohol in his system.

The Times noted the days leading up to the flight were marked by confusion — from misrouted cargo for the "Rock the Boat" video shoot to last-minute changes in charter companies.

Billboard later reported that the plane was so overloaded that local taxi drivers who dropped Aaliyah and her crew at the airport voiced concern about the amount of equipment being loaded on board.

Fans mourned a rising star

In the days that followed, fans held memorials around the country. Hundreds gathered near her former high school in Detroit on Aug. 27, 2001, for a candlelight vigil, according to Billboard.

Rapper DMX, her co-star in "Romeo Must Die," released a statement calling her "talented, classy, warm, beautiful, compassionate [and] humble," Billboard reported. Producer Timbaland told MTV’s Total Request Live: "Me and her together had this chemistry. I kinda lost half of my creativity to her."

Dig deeper:

Born in Brooklyn in 1979 and raised in Detroit, Aaliyah began performing early. At age 11, she appeared with her aunt, Gladys Knight, in Las Vegas. By 14, she released her debut album, "Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number," which earned award nominations and sold more than a million copies.

Her 1996 follow-up, "One in a Million," went double platinum and introduced the world to her collaborations with then-up-and-comers Timbaland and Missy Elliott. By 2001, her self-titled third album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, cementing her as one of the most important voices in R&B.

Her acting career was also on the rise. She starred in "Romeo Must Die" (2000), completed "Queen of the Damned," and had been cast in the "Matrix" sequels at the time of her death.

What they're saying:

A year after Aaliyah’s death, LeBron James told Sports Illustrated her death motivated him to keep playing through a serious injury: "You’re not promised tomorrow. I had to be out on the field with my team."

Missy Elliott marked Aaliyah’s 41st birthday in 2020 with a tribute on social media: "Your edgyness & smooth dancing so effortless… musically your songs will forever be next level."

Aaliyah’s legacy

After her death, Aaliyah’s artistry continued to earn recognition across music and film. Her self-titled final album received three posthumous Grammy nominations, while her turn as Queen Akasha in the 2002 film "Queen of the Damned" brought several award nods. According to Billboard and industry archives, she was nominated for Best Actress at the BET Awards in 2002, Best Villain at the MTV Movie Awards in 2002, and Best Actress at the Fangoria Chainsaw Awards in 2003.

Although "Queen of the Damned" itself was not widely praised by critics, her portrayal of Akasha — set against the nu-metal, gothic backdrop of the film — has since become a cult favorite. 

Her cultural influence has extended well beyond her career. In January 2025, The Detroit News reported that Barbie released a collector’s doll in Aaliyah’s likeness, styled in the black outfit from her "One in a Million" video. The doll sold out within 30 minutes, underscoring the staying power of her legacy nearly a quarter-century after her passing.