Vanessa Bryant is suing the operator of the helicopter that her husband, daughter, and seven others were on when it crashed into a hillside.
Vidar Nordli-Mathisen
via Unsplash, https://unsplash.com
The suit accuses the defendants of 28 counts of negligence and breach of duty, and argues the defendants failed to “exercise ordinary care in piloting the subject aircraft and failed to provide proper and safe aircraft services.” Additionally, the suit claims Zobayan “failed to properly monitor and assess the weather prior to takeoff, failed to abort the flight when he knew of the cloudy conditions, and failed to keep a safe distance between the helicopter and natural obstacles.” In addition, “Zobayan, an experienced pilot and instructor, improperly piloted the helicopter by visual orientation under limited-visibility conditions that require instrument-guided navigation,” according to the suit. As a result, the lawsuit argues the fatal crash happened because of Zobayan’s negligent conduct, “which defendant Island Express Helicopters is vicariously liable in all respects.”
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chimed in and said that although Zobayan was “licensed to fly by instruments in poor weather, Island Express was only permitted to fly by visual flight rules when carrying paying passengers.” While the initial crash report from NTSB didn’t find any signs of engine failure, it noted there were confirmed reports of “low clouds and fog at the time of the accident.” The NTSB also pointed out that the helicopter was not outfitted with “any kind of terrain awareness and warning system.” If the helicopter had the warning systems, it may have been able to warn “the pilot that the aircraft was getting dangerously close to the hillside.”
The Federal Aviation Administration also said this wasn’t the first time Zobayan violated visual flight rules. Apparently, he also violated the rules “during a 2015 incident in which he entered restricted airspace without authorization.”
The fatal crash happened back on January 26 when the Sikorsky S-76B helicopter crashed “into a hillside northwest of Los Angeles and burst into flames while Bryant and his entourage were en route to a youth sports academy for a girls’ basketball tournament.” Bryant’s second-born daughter, Gianna, was also on the helicopter that day because she was a “member of the team due to compete that day.”
Sources:
Widow of NBA great Kobe Bryant sues helicopter operator for fatal crash
Vanessa Bryant Sues Helicopter Operator for Wrongful Death in Crash That Killed Kobe
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