Aaliyah’s Family In Bitter Legal War as Uncle Blames Cousin for Fatal 2001 Plane Crash

A deep family feud surrounding the legacy of late R&B superstar Aaliyah has spilled into court, bringing painful memories of her tragic 2001 death back into the public eye. Record executive Barry Hankerson and his son, Jomo Hankerson, are locked in a bitter legal fight over money that has now devolved into grave personal accusations. According to court documents obtained by reports, the dispute began over corporate finances and management operations. However, the legal battle quickly turned explosive when Barry lodged a shocking claim, alleging that his own son shares responsibility for the logistics that led to the fatal aviation disaster.

Aaliyah passed away in August 2001 at just 22 years old when an overloaded twin-engine plane crashed moments after taking off from Marsh Harbour Airport in the Bahamas. She had just finished shooting her music video for the hit single "Rock the Boat." All nine people on board, including crew members and security personnel, lost their lives in the crash. Now, more than two decades after the tragedy, Barry is pointing fingers at Jomo in counter-claims filed in court. The elder Hankerson alleges that Jomo's oversight and decision-making regarding travel arrangements contributed to the circumstances surrounding the ill-fated flight.

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Jomo Hankerson is Aaliyah’s cousin and served as an executive at Blackground Records, the record label founded by his father, Barry Hankerson. Jomo initially launched the legal battle by suing Barry, claiming financial misconduct, breach of contract, and unpaid earnings linked to the record label's operations. Blackground Records held the rights to Aaliyah’s multi-platinum music catalog for decades. The label famously withheld her iconic studio albums from digital streaming platforms for years, sparking immense frustration among fans until a deal finally brought her discography to major platforms in 2021. This latest court drama underscores the severe breakdown in the Hankerson family dynamic. The legal proceedings remain ongoing, with neither party issuing public statements outside of their official court filings.