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Breaking News

Aaliyah, Seven Others Perish in Plane Crash

Aired August 26, 2001 - 00:19   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Welcome to our viewers in the United States as we bring you breaking news of a light aircraft crash in the Bahamas. Eight people died, one person was critically injured when the plane crashed as it tried to take off from the island of Abaco; that's according to local police.

You can see there the route that the plane was supposed to take from Marsh Harbor airport on that island, and headed for Opa-Locka, which is in Florida. It has been reported that all of those onboard this private aircraft were Americans. It is also being reported that one of those killed is the actress and Grammy-nominated R&B singer Aaliyah. Aaliyah apparently had been in the Bahamas with a video crew filming a video for a new song. When the plane crashed it was on its way back to the United States after completing shooting.

Apparently the plane crashed just very shortly after takeoff, fire engulfing the aircraft as it hit the ground. A worker for Abaco Air Limited, which is based at Marsh Harbor Airport has been quoted as saying that baggage handlers had reported the aircraft overloaded with suitcases. She said that the handlers and the pilot of the aircraft complained about the heavy load. She is quoted as saying that the passengers insisted on taking everything with them.

And just repeating that, it appears that eight people have died, one person has been critically injured in an aircraft crash just off an island in the Bahamas. And one of those killed, it would appear, is the Grammy-nominated R&B singer, and recently actress, Aaliyah.

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