New witness reports have said that R&B singer Aaliyah was “drugged” and “did not want to get on the plane” that took her life.
Aaliyah died in a plane crash on her way back from her Rock The Boat music video shoot in the Bahamas in 2001.
The singer died when she was only 22 alongside eight others, including pilot, Luis Morales III.
Kingsley Russell, whose family drove Aaliyah to the airport, saw the singer moments before she died.
Although only 13 at the time, Kingsley, now 33, claimed Aaliyah was falling asleep in the taxi on the way to the plane and did not want to get on.
(Image: The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Images)
Speaking out for the first time in years, Kingsley said: “They took her out of the van, she didn’t even know she was getting boarded on a plane.
“She went on the aeroplane asleep.”
A new biography – Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah – written by music journalist Kathy Iandoli, reports similar events.
In the book, Kathy writes that Aaliyah was given a sleeping pill when she voiced her concern about boarding the plane.
(Image: Getty Images)
After telling the team she had a headache, Aaliyah was carried onto the plane fast asleep.
The passengers and pilot had previously been arguing about the weight of the plane, witness Kingsley attested.
Kingsley was also working as a baggage carrier at the time and said that Aaliyah and the airport staff had the “common sense” to understand the plane was overweight.
(Image: VEVO)
Aaliyah’s entourage, adamant to get to Miami by the following day, reportedly insisted on flying the chartered plane despite the weight discrepancy.
Their video equipment and other luggage meant the plane was over its weight capacity by 700lbs (320kg).
The plane crashed and caught fire shortly after takeoff, only 200 feet from the end of the runway.
Aaliyah suffered “severe burns and a blow to the head” as well as severe shock and a weak heart according to the coroner’s report.
Fans have suffered for years at the rumours that Aaliyah was insisting on boarding the plane.
The claims that she was reportedly drugged and reluctant comes as a bitter relief to many.
Author and fan Kathy, said: “In learning that she did not want to get on the plane, for someone like myself and so many other people, I think that’s closure for us.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
