Aaliyah's Final Texts Reveal She Feared the Plane That Killed Her: "I Don't Like the Plane"

Newly shared text messages from Aaliyah’s ex-boyfriend, Damon Dash, are giving fans a heartbreaking look at her final moments. In the texts, Aaliyah expressed unease about the small plane she was supposed to board after filming the“Rock the Boat”music video in the Bahamas. She wrote,“I don’t like the plane.”Dash urged her not to get on, but she felt she had to in order to make the flight back to Florida. The twin-engine Cessna crashed less than a minute after takeoff on August 25, 2001, killing Aaliyah and eight others. She was just 22 years old.

The investigation that followed revealed a series of catastrophic failures. The pilot, Luis Antonio Morales, was not approved to fly the aircraft and toxicology tests found alcohol and cocaine in his system. The plane was also overloaded by roughly 700 pounds and improperly loaded, which likely contributed to the crash. For 25 years, fans have mourned the loss of a rising star whose career was just beginning to explode. Now, knowing she had a bad feeling about that flight adds an even deeper layer of tragedy to an already devastating story.

Aaliyah’s legacy lives on through her music, her influence on R&B and pop, and the memories of everyone who loved her. This anniversary has brought renewed attention to her story and the human moments that made her so special. Do you remember where you were when you heard the news, or does this new detail change how you listen to“Rock the Boat”? Let us know in the comments.