Subscribe
Follow Us
The man who piloted Kobe Bryant's helicopter on the morning of a fatal crash just outside Calabasas had previously violated rules under the Federal Aviation Administration.
In 2015, Ara Zobayan–who also had experience piloting Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard–bypassed a command to withhold from operating a plane under reduced visibility (via Jonathan Soveta of The Score):
On May 11, 2015, Ara Zobayan was flying north near Los Angeles International Airport when he requested permission from a control tower to fly into the airport's airspace, the report says. However, Zobayan was told the weather conditions did not meet minimum standards for flying with visual flight rules (VFR), otherwise known as flying by sight.
After being denied permission to “maintain special VFR” – a specific clearance to operate under reduced visibility – Zobayan replied he could “maintain VFR” but entered the airspace during the conversation despite not receiving approval.
The FAA subsequently investigated Zobayan and ruled he did not adequately review and prepare for the weather conditions at the L.A. airport. However, the report adds he cooperated fully with the investigation and says “there are no signs that this incident is a trend with Mr. Zobayan.”
The exact reason for the Jan. 26 crash–which killed Bryant as well as his daughter Gianna and seven others–remains unknown.
Zobayan's last message to air traffic controllers was about making a climb in order to avoid cloud layers in the area that morning. But Zobayan lost contact after ATCs sought to ground all flights.
Bryant reportedly made Zobayan his personal pilot, and Leonard reflected on Zobayan's character immediately following the crash.
