2001 Marsh Harbour Cessna 402 crash
On August 25, 2001, a Cessna 402 twin-engine light aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Marsh Harbour Airport on the Abaco Islands of the Bahamas, killing the pilot and all eight passengers on board. Among the victims were American singer and actress Aaliyah and members of her entourage, including a hairdresser, her bodyguard and a record executive. The group had just completed filming of the music video for "Rock the Boat" and had chartered the flight to return to Florida.
A Cessna 402 similar to the accident aircraft | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | August 25, 2001 (22 years ago) |
| Summary | Crashed shortly after takeoff due to overloading |
| Site | Marsh Harbour Airport, Abaco Islands, The Bahamas 26°30′35″N 077°05′51″W |
| Aircraft | |
| Aircraft type | Cessna 402B |
| Operator | Blackhawk International Airways |
| Registration | N8097W |
| Flight origin | Marsh Harbour Airport, Abaco Islands, The Bahamas |
| Destination | Opa-Locka Airport, Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupants | 9 |
| Passengers | 8 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 9 |
| Survivors | 0 |
The subsequent investigation determined that the aircraft had attempted to take off while heavily overloaded; the eight passengers exceeded its certified maximum of seven. It also emerged that the pilot falsified records on his experience and qualifications to fly this type of aircraft.