This archive report was first published on 18 June 2020.
Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash: Pilot's Text Messages Raise Concerns ¶
On January 26, 2020, basketball legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven others tragically lost their lives in a helicopter crash. An investigation into the accident has revealed that the pilot, Ara Zobayan, may have been disoriented in the hours leading up to the crash.
According to documents shared by the National Transportation Safety Board, Zobayan expressed concern about the weather the night before the crash. In a group text, he wrote, 'Just checked not the best day tomorrow but it is not as bad as today.'
On the morning of the crash, Zobayan communicated again in the group text, stating, 'Morning Weather looking ok.'
Despite his concerns, Zobayan classified the day's flight as low risk, which meant he did not need approval from company managers to fly. However, the investigation has not yet determined the actual cause of the crash, with bad weather believed to have played a significant role.
As the investigation remains open, it is clear that the pilot's text messages raise concerns about his state of mind in the hours leading up to the crash.
Published on June 18, 2020, the report highlights the moments leading up to the crash, including the communication between Zobayan and air traffic controllers.
