An error by the helicopter pilot caused the accident in which NBA star Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna María died. on January 26, 2020 in California, United States, as determined by a report from the National Transportation Safety Board of that country.
According to the experts, the pilot Ara Zobayan had not been authorized to go through a sudden storm, but ignored the order and caused the tragedy when the helicopter collapsed in the town of Calabasas. In addition, the report detailed that neither the former player nor the owner of the company pressured the pilot to fly that morning: “There was no evidence that Island Express, the supplier, or the customer pressured the pilot to accept or complete the flight in adverse weather. “
The other seven occupants died in the accident -including the pilot- of the aircraft, including Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester, both 13 years old and Gianna María’s teammates on Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Academy basketball team.
The death of 41-year-old Los Angeles Lakers star Bryant and Gianna Maria, 13, created a commotion not just in the United States but around the world. The star’s family is also made up of his wife, Vanessa Laine, and three other daughters: Natalia, Bianca and Capri.
Bryant played his entire career with the Lakers, where he won NBA Five Rings and was chosen as the best player in the league in 2008. In addition, with the US team he won the Olympic gold in Beijing 2008 and London 2012.