Aaliyah's Uncle Accuses Nephew of Causing Fatal 2001 Plane Crash

A lawsuit obtained by TMZ reveals that Barry Hankerson, who controls Aaliyah's master recordings, blames his son Jomo for the 2001 plane disaster that killed the R&B star and eight others. Barry asserts Jomo was compensated to coordinate the trip but neglected the task, resulting in the ill-fated flight from the Abaco Islands to Miami. The filing references past findings that the aircraft exceeded its weight capacity by 200 pounds and that the pilot was reportedly under the influence of alcohol and cocaine.

Jomo has responded with a claim that his father owes him 12 percent of earnings from Blackground Records' music assets, seeking $1.2 million in damages. He also alleges Barry threatened to release unreleased Aaliyah material amid the dispute. Both sides deny wrongdoing as the case proceeds.