On a foggy morning in January 2020, Kobe Bryant’s decision to charter a private helicopter, a common practice to avoid Los Angeles’ infamous traffic, turned tragic. The flight, which should have taken about 30 minutes, ended in disaster. The basketball icon, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, and seven others boarded a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter in Orange County, but less than 40 minutes later, it crashed into a hillside near Calabasas, claiming all nine lives aboard.
Bryant, scheduled to coach Gianna’s team at his Mamba Sports Academy, was joined by the Altobelli family—John, Keri, and Alyssa—along with Sarah Chester, her daughter Payton, and basketball coach Christina Mauser. The pilot, Ara Zobayan, had flown the same route the day before without incident, but that morning’s weather conditions were less forgiving. The helicopter deviated from its original path due to dense fog and later sought guidance from air traffic control as it flew near Glendale.
At 9:42 a.m., Zobayan began to climb the helicopter’s altitude to avoid the clouds but quickly started descending. A mere 90 seconds later, the aircraft crashed at 9:45 a.m., and emergency services received their first call at 9:47 a.m. Rescuers arrived soon after, but it was clear that no one survived.
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As the news of the crash spread, fans and loved ones were left stunned. Five years later, the aftermath continues to haunt the families of the victims, who have faced the dual burden of mourning and navigating legal battles. The investigation into the cause of the crash took over a year, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) issuing its final report in 2021. It found that pilot error, exacerbated by poor visibility, was the primary cause of the crash. The pilot, according to the report, had become disoriented in the thick fog and flew the helicopter into dangerous terrain at excessive speed.
Vanessa Bryant, Kobe’s widow, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Island Express Helicopters and the pilot’s estate. The suit argued that the pilot’s negligence, including flying in hazardous conditions and disregarding flight rules, directly contributed to the crash. Although the lawsuit was settled confidentially in 2021, Vanessa faced further distress when it emerged that emergency responders had taken and shared graphic photos of the crash victims.
The disturbing photos, shared among deputies and fire personnel, led to another legal battle. In 2022, a jury awarded Vanessa Bryant $16 million for the emotional distress caused by the photos. The same jury also awarded $15 million to Chris Chester, who lost his wife and daughter in the crash.
The crash and its aftermath continue to cast a long shadow over the Bryant family, the victims’ loved ones, and the Los Angeles community. The tragedy remains a somber reminder of the fleeting nature of life and the profound impact of such a loss.
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