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The world lost one of its greatest athletes on Sunday, when Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles at the age of 41. It was a tragic scene, as all nine passengers, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, perished.
The passengers were flying to the Mamba Sports Academy, where Bryant was to serve as a coach for his daughter's basketball team. Kobe had flown around the Southern California area in his private helicopter for years in an attempt to gain more time with his family.
The events leading up to Sunday's crash are now starting to be released.
According to a report from CNN, Kobe Bryant and his daughter attended an early-morning church service prior to the accident, where they took part in a communion ceremony. Following the service, it was on to the Mamba Sports Academy.
Bryant's Sikorsky S-76B took off from Orange County at 9:06 a.m. PT, en route from Southern Los Angeles to the northern suburbs. Radar showed that it was an unusually foggy morning. In fact, police air units were grounded due to poor visibility in the area. CNN reports that the pilot, who has since been identified as Ara Zobayan, sought permission to fly through these foggy conditions.
Due to this poor visibility, air traffic control held Bryant's helicopter in flight for a bit before allowing it to continue on to its destination. Reports indicate that the chopper hovered around the Glendale area for roughly 12 minutes before being instructed to head North along the I-5 freeway at roughly 9:33 a.m.
Mr. Zobayan, who was an experienced pilot with 20 years of service under his belt, confirmed that he had received these instructions from the flight tower:
“Maintain special VFR at or below 2500, I-5 northbound,” Zobayan told air traffic control.
Burbank air traffic control later asked Zobayan to switch over to Van Nuys air traffic control, to which he complied:
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“Van Nuys, Helicopter 2EX with you for the special VFR transition. We are currently at 1400,” Zobayan said in his radio transmission with Van Nuys flight control, via CNN.
“Wind calm, visibility 2 1/2 , ceiling 1100 overcast, Van Nuys altimeters 30.16,” the Van Nuys air traffic controller replied. “Cleared into Van Nuys Class D northeast of Van Nuys.”
Just before the fatal crash, air traffic control received a message from Zobayan, who noted that he was going to try to climb above a layer of cloud in an attempt to receive flight following assistance, which is a radar-assisted program that helps pilots avoid traffic. However, flight controllers informed him that he was flying “too low” for FFA. Sadly, it was the last transmission shared.
Van Nuys tried to contact the flight for further instructions, but there was no response:
“72EX, you're following a 1200 code. So you're requesting flight following?” the controller asked.
“Say intentions,” the controller adds. “You're still too low level for flight following at this time.”
Sadly, Bryant's helicopter fell from the radar screen at 9:45 a.m., according to NTSB reports. Minutes later, the first 911 calls were received by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. First responders to the Calabasas accident indicated a quarter-acre brush fire, which was difficult to extinguish due to levels of magnesium.
The Los Angeles Times reports that the helicopter, which was descending at more than 2,000 feet per minute at the time of impact, was not equipped with a terrain alarm system, which may have alerted the pilot that he was approaching a hillside.
A five-time champion and 18-time All-Star, Kobe Bryant will be remembered as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Taken far too soon, the memories, as well as his “Mamba Mentality” will live on forever.
