The families of two passengers who died in the plane crash that killed Aaliyah have filed wrongful death lawsuits against Virgin Records, its affiliated music and video production units, the plane's owner and the charter air company. The families of Eric Forman and Anthony Dodd, the hairstylists who had been in the Bahamas with Aaliyah for the filming of a video for "Rock the Boat," charge the label with placing profits over safety when choosing the charter company.

Nine people onboard the twin engine Cessna 402B were killed on August 25th when the plane went down at Marsh Harbour Airport in Great Abaco, Bahamas. Crash investigators cited excess weight as one of the main causes of the accident. On August 30th the Bahamanian Civil Aviation Department released a report stating that the aircraft had exceeded its maximum weight and that no problems were found with either the engine or the airframe.

The BCAD report indicated that after baggage and fuel the aircraft only had room left for 805 pounds, meaning that the nine people aboard the plane could have only weighed ninety pounds apiece to keep within the maximum takeoff weight.

Furthermore, the pilot, Luis Morales, had been charged with cocaine possession on July 7th. Morales had sixty days to report the incident to the Federal Aviation Authority, which could have suspended or revoked his flight certificate. Morales was still within that timeframe when he was killed.

As yet, no other legal action has been taken by the families of the other passengers. Dodd and Forman's families are seeking unspecified monetary damages.

CHRISTINA SARACENO
(February 28, 2002)