Vanessa Bryant sues helicopter company, and Pilot

Widow of legendary basketballer Kobe Bryant, Vanessa Bryant, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the helicopter company that owned the helicopter, which the legendary basketballer died in late last month, alongside his daughter, Gigiana, and seven other persons, as well as the pilot.

According to the lawsuit, it alleges that Island Express was only allowed to fly under visual flight rules, and the conditions the day of the crash were not conducive for such flying. Reports have also stated that the fog was extremely low and the pilot was in blinding conditions before the crash.

Furthermore, the lawsuit says that the pilot was going 180 miles per hour despite the heavy fog in a steep decline in the moments before it crashed in Calabasas, CA.

It also claims that the pilot did not properly monitor and assess the weather before taking off; that he failed to acquire necessary weather data before the flight; that he did not abort the flight when he knew of the cloudy condition; that he did not maintain control of the helicopter, and failed to avoid “natural obstacles” in the flight path.

The claims against the company and pilot are really fundamental and crucial, including a claim that points to the facft that the pilot, Ara George Zobayan, was disciplined for violating the visual flight rule minimums by flying into an airspace of reduced visibility, in 2015.

Finally, the suit seeks damages “for loss of love, affection, care, society, service, comfort, support, right to support, companionship, solace or moral support and expectations of future support and counseling”. it also seeks money for loss of monetary support and for the expenses incurred during the burial and funeral.

The company, Island Express, through its Representative has stated that the crash was a tragic accident, and also stated that there wiould be no comments regarding the pending lawsuit.