Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven other passengers were killed in a helicopter accident caused after the pilot flew through the clouds and became disoriented, the National Transportation Safety Board ruled.
The federal agency announced its findings in a Tuesday meeting which was live streamed where Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, discussed the tragic Sikorsky S-76 helicopter crash which took place in Calabasas on Jan. 26, 2020. The news shocked and devastated fans around the globe.
The Lakers legend and his daughter, Gianna, were killed along with passengers Alyssa Altobelli, Keri Altobelli, John Altobelli, Christina Mauser, Payton Chester and Sarah Chester. Pilot Ara Zobayan was also killed. Zobayan had neither drugs nor alcohol in his system at the time of the crash, authorities said.
Zobayan became disoriented when the aircraft flew through clouds, an apparent violation of federal standards, Sumwalt explained.
The crash has generated several lawsuits and countersuits.
