Aaliyah Dana Haughton ( better known as Aaliyah ) ( January 16 , 1979 â `` August 25 , 2001 , in an airplane crash ) was an African-American rhythm and blues singer and actor . Aaliyah Dana Haughton ( January 16 , 1979 â `` August 25 , 2001 ) , who performed under the mononym Aaliyah , was an American recording artist , actress and model .