How Aaliyah may have PREDICTED her horrific death in plane crash (2024)

AALIYAH shared a haunting premonition in one of her final interviews, appearing to foreshadow her own death just weeks before she was killed in a plane crash.

The R&B singertragically died on August 25, 2001,alongside eight others after a chartered plane destined for Miami crashed less than a minute after take-off in the Bahamas. She was just 22.

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In an interview with German media just one month before the fatal wreck, Aaliyah shared a now eerie anecdote about a recurring dream she'd been having at the time.

The pop sensation, one of the most coveted performers of her era, told her interviewer that in the dream she was being followed by someone, which made her feel scared and anxious.

But then she would suddenly fly away from them and feel at peace.

“It is dark in my favorite dream," she began. "Someone is following me. I don't know why. I'm scared. Then suddenly I lift off. Far away.

"How do I feel? As if I am swimming in the air. Free. Weightless. Nobody can reach me. Nobody can touch me. It's a wonderful feeling."

EERIE PREDICTION

This was one of the final interviews Aaliyah gave before her death.

While the dream bears a number of symbolic elements, fans of the singer have suggested that it was actually a dark, subconscious premonition of the crash that ultimately claimed her life.

Within four weeks, Aaliyah would be dead after suffering severe burns and a fatal blow to the head after she boarded a Cessna 402 twin-engine light aircraftthat crashed seconds after takeoff.

Her body was found 20 feet away from the wreckage. She was still strapped into her seat and slumped over to her left.

At a coroner's inquest hearing in November 2001, Dr. Giovander Raju called Aaliyah's chances of survival slim to none, pointing to the fact she suffered from a "generally weak heart."

"Aaliyah went into such a state of shock, even if she had survived the crash, recovery would have been near impossible," Raju said

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It was later revealed that the pilot, who wasn't qualified to fly the plane, had traces of cocaine and alcohol in his body.

It was also discovered that theplane was around 700 pounds overweight, and the weight wasn't distributed properly making the plane almost impossible to control once airborne.

ANXIOUS FLIER

Earlier this week, a bombshell excerpt from Kathy Iandoli's upcoming book, Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah, revealed that the singer was reportedly apprehensive to get on board the flight in the first place.

Initial reports from the time suggested she had been insistent that she needed to be back in Miami later that evening.

However, a man who was one of the last people to see her alive said she actually refused to get on board.

Aaliyah, a known anxious flier, reportedly knew the size of her seven-person entourage and all of their luggage would be too much for the small jet to bear.

She was reportedly fearful of small planes and had been expected a much larger aircraft to arrive.

The claim was made by Kingsley Russell,a Bahamian man who was 13 at the time and working as the star's baggage handler for his family's taxi and hospitality business.

REFUSED TO BOARD

Russell's mother was Aaliyah’s driver during her time on the island and he told Iandoli he spoke with the star on their way to the airport, as first reported byThe Daily Beast.

The plane was late arriving at the gate by two hours, reportedly irking Aaliyah's team, Russell said.

Frustrations boiled further when the plane finally arrived and Aaliyah refused to board it, he recounts in the book.

It was then that members of her entourage reportedly started arguing with the pilot after he told them the plane would be too heavy for eight passengers and all of their luggage.

Aaliyah had been filming what would be her last music video, Rock The Boat, on the tropical island and her entourage was carrying heavy camera equipment with them.

'AALIYAH HAD COMMON SENSE'

As Russell remembers it, Aaliyah's team was reportedly insistent that they needed to be back in Miami as it was a Saturday night.

“[The airport staff] and Aaliyah had the common sense that the plane was overweight,” Russellsays in the book,as reported by the Beast.

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The 22-year-old then got back into Russell's mother's taxi, telling her team she had a headache and wanted to take a nap.

Eventually, Russell says, a member of Aaliyah's team came to check on her.

During the exchange, Russell says the singer reiterated that she didn't want to get on the small plane and that she wasn't feeling well.

Theteam member then handed Aaliyah a pill, Russel claims, which she took before falling "into a deep sleep".

MYSTERY PILL

She was then carried onto the flight unconscious, he claims, after the pilot finally caved and allowed her team to board.

“They took her out of the van; she didn’t even know she was getting boarded on a plane,” Russellrecounts in the book. "She went on the airplane asleep.”

The flight took off at 6.50pm. It had only got between 60 and 100 feet in the air before nosediving back down to the ground.

Aaliyah and six of the eight others on board were killed instantly. Two others died in hospital.

One of those passengers was the singer's security guard. He reportedly spent his final moments worrying about Aaliyah's condition, first responders later said.

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Aaliyah's parents reached an undisclosed settlement in a negligence lawsuit against the plane's operator, Blackhawk International Airways Corp.

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Blackhawk had been cited by the Federal Aviation Administration three times in four years leading up to the crash for various safety violations, according to the Associated Press.

Among the transgressions: failure to follow drug-testing guidelines and performing improper aircraft maintenance.

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Music video for Aaliyah's classic hit Rock The Boat

How Aaliyah may have PREDICTED her horrific death in plane crash (2024)

FAQs

Did Aaliyah have a heart defect? ›

Physicians determined she was in cardiogenic shock likely due to myocarditis, with a reduced ejection fraction of 20%. Dr. Ronald Domescek implanted Impella CP® with SmartAssist® to support Aaliyah's weak heart and allow it to rest.

Did Aaliyah wanted to get on the plane? ›

Aaliyah suffered severe burns and head trauma and, even if she had survived, the coroner's office determined that her recovery would have been nearly impossible. “The only thing I've taken with me is that after 20 years, I can finally say that Aaliyah didn't want to get on the plane," Iandoli told The Daily Beast.

Did Aaliyah and Jay-Z ever date? ›

Jay-Z was rumored to have dated Aaliyah, which she denied in an interview. The pair were photographed together several times and Jay-Z would say that he felt her death was a precursor to the September 11 attacks that occurred the month after she died on September 11, 2001.

What was Aaliyah's net worth when she died? ›

Late singer and musician Aaliyah had an estimated net worth of $8 million at the time of her death, as per Celebrity Net Worth. Aaliyah had a promising career in music releasing several hits and earning titles like "Princess of R&B" and "Queen of Urban Pop".

Did Aaliyah have Down syndrome? ›

Aaliyah's favorite saying is, “Never give up!” That constant positivity helps Aaliyah face life's challenges, like being born with Down's Syndrome, and battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. ​​When Aaliyah was 12 years old, she received new braces on her teeth.

What was Aaliyah age when she died? ›

25, 2001. NEW YORK (WABC) -- The death of 22-year-old R&B singer and actress Aaliyah stunned the world on Aug. 25, 2001.

Could Aaliyah survive the plane crash? ›

She took the pill, fell back asleep, and was carried into the plane. The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff, about 200 feet (60 m) from the runway. Aaliyah and seven of the eight others on board were killed instantly. Scott Gallin, Aaliyah's security guard, survived the crash, but died shortly afterwards.

Who sent Aaliyah a jet? ›

Dash then went on to say that director Hype Williams took the jet that was originally offered to Aaliyah to use to leave the Bahamas the day she was killed. “But what I was really more tight about was that I had heard that Lenny Kravitz had offered her a jet and that Hype had took the jet,” he said.

Did Selena ever meet Aaliyah? ›

She loved watching her friend sing and dance and could never get enough of her music. Selena, in turn, was amazed by Aaliyah's intelligence and creativity. Together, they were genuinely unbeatable. Aaliyah and Selena worked on an exciting collaboration in a Manhattan studio.

What caused Aaliyah's crash? ›

This accident happened when the airplane used was overloaded. The plane was found to be half a ton overweight. Also, the engine spark plugs were overdue for replacement, which reduced the airplane's performance. These two factors led to the airplane initially lifting off, then impacting the ground at high speed.

Who was older Beyoncé or Aaliyah? ›

Incidentally, Beyoncé has stated Aaliyah to be one of her musical influences, citing her as an “inspiration” due to their similar age (they were born two years apart) and educational background (they both attended a performing arts high school).

Who went to Aaliyah's funeral? ›

Among the attendees at Aaliyah's funeral were her family, including her parents, Diane and Michael Haughton, and her brother Rashad. Celebrities like Missy Elliott, Timbaland, and Gladys Knight also paid their respects.

How was Aaliyah's life? ›

She was a person of virtue, honor, hard work, and love. She was a unique individual who gave all of herself in whatever she did. Whether it was charity work, singing, acting, time with friends, signing autographs, Aaliyah lived her life with a smile on her face and love in her heart.

Who did Aaliyah's makeup? ›

Eric Ferrell is my make-up artist. I never have to worry with Eric. I close my eyes, open them and he makes me beautiful,” Aaliyah said in a 2001 MTV Diary. As Eric told The Fader in 2011, he met Aaliyah on the photoshoot for her very first album, Age Ain't Nothing But a Number, when she was just 15.

When did Aaliyah come out? ›

In 1994, at the age of 14, Aaliyah released her first album, Age Ain't Nothing But A Number. It was an instant success. The first single, “Back And Forth,” was a Top 5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and a No. 1 R&B song.

Were Selena and Aaliyah friends? ›

Aaliyah was always in awe of Selena's incredible talent. She loved watching her friend sing and dance and could never get enough of her music. Selena, in turn, was amazed by Aaliyah's intelligence and creativity. Together, they were genuinely unbeatable.

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