Aaliyah family legal battle raises new allegation about singer’s fatal 2001 plane crash

Barry Hankerson claims his son failed in his responsibility to coordinate travel for Aaliyah’s final music-video shoot.

More than 25 years after Aaliyah’s death, a family dispute over music rights has brought a startling allegation about the singer’s final trip back into the spotlight.

According to TMZ’s Aug. 31 report, Barry Hankerson, Aaliyah’s uncle and longtime manager, claims his son Jomo Hankerson failed to properly handle travel arrangements for the singer’s 2001 music-video shoot in the Bahamas.

Jomo, who was also Aaliyah’s cousin, is suing his father and Blackground Records over a separate dispute involving music assets. In response, Barry allegedly argued that Jomo had been paid to coordinate travel but “failed in his responsibility” to do so.

That allegation is particularly significant because Aaliyah died on Aug. 25, 2001, when the plane carrying her and eight others crashed shortly after takeoff from the Bahamas. TMZ reports that Barry claims the tragedy “may have been avoided had [Jomo] followed through on his compensated task of travel coordination.”

The claim does not represent a new official finding about what caused the crash. It is an allegation made amid the family’s current legal battle.

At the center of Jomo’s lawsuit is a settlement concerning recording masters and music-publishing rights associated with Aaliyah, Toni Braxton, DMX and Timbaland. Jomo claims he is entitled to 12% of money generated from the disputed assets and is seeking more than $1.2 million. He also alleges his father used Blackground Records to conceal money and create expenses unrelated to the assets.

Barry has denied wrongdoing and challenged the validity of the settlement, alleging it was obtained through fraud. He has also accused Jomo of previously threatening to release unreleased Aaliyah recordings if his financial demands were not met. Jomo denies the allegations against him.

The legal fight has therefore become far more personal than a dispute over royalties. What began as a battle over Aaliyah’s music catalog is now drawing the singer’s tragic final journey into the courtroom, with both sides disputing the allegations.

The case remains ongoing, and the claims have not been established as facts by a court.