Singer-Actress Died In 2001 Crash

The parents of actress-singer Aaliyah have settled their lawsuit over the young woman's aviation-related death. Aaliyah was killed when the chartered Cessna 402B she was flying in crashed just after take-off from Marsh Harbor on the Bahamian island of Great Abaco.

As ANN reported last year (ANN: "Aaliyah Accident Spawns Lawsuits" -- May 15, 2002) the parents had sued the 402's owner, Blackhawk International Airways. The carrier didn't have permission from the Bahamas to run commercial flights there. The 22-year old Grammy winner's parents also sued Blackhawk's owners, Skystream and Gilbert Chacon, as well as flight broker Atlantic Flight Group. All were accused of negligence.

Aviation investigators think the twin Cessna was way overloaded, grossing 700 lbs. more than the maximum weight. An autopsy on the pilot, Luis Antonio Morales III, indicated he had both alcohol and cocaine in his system at the time of the crash. There were also questions about fuel pump maintenance on the 402B. Blackhawk was suspended by the Canadian Transport Agency in 1997 for not meeting flight standards.

Aaliyah posthumously won the annual Billboard R&B Hip-Hop Awards last month. She co-starred in the movies "The Matrix" and "Queen of the Damned."

Nobody's talking about the settlement, which was posted in federal court.

FMI: www.bahamasnet.com/servlets/controller