Remembering Aaliyah, 10 Years After Tragic Death

Ten years ago today, 22-year-old Brooklyn-born singer Aaliyah died in a plane crash in the Bahamas. She was on a twin-engine plane that crashed just after taking off from the Bahamas—all nine people on board died. Initial reports said the plane suffered engine failure upon liftoff, though later on it was discovered that the pilot was doing cocaine and had alcohol in his system.

Aaliyah's uncle was married to Gladys Knight, and at a young age "Aaliyah traveled with Knight and worked with an agent in New York to audition for commercials and television programs... she appeared in concerts alongside Knight at age 11."

There were rumors that she married R. Kelly at age 15, and while she denied it, a marriage certificate was discovered at the Chicago county clerk's office. At the time of her death she was dating Damon Dash, who recently opened up about losing her. He told Billboard, “We’d be in a room full of people talking to each other and it felt like everyone was listening but it would be just us. It would be like we were the only ones in the room. It was like something was going down in history every time I was with her. Every time I was around her I felt it was the place to be. She was one of the best people I ever met. Even with the pain I felt, I would do it all over again.”

Rolling Stone has her tribute from 2001. One of her videos, and footage from the crash scene below: