Skip to content
NOWCAST KSBW Action News 8 Weekend at 8 am
Live Now
Advertisement

Vanessa Bryant, other victims' families, reach settlement in lawsuit over deadly helicopter crash

Vanessa Bryant, other victims' families, reach settlement in lawsuit over deadly helicopter crash
In January of 2020 the world was shocked when superstar athlete Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among a group of people who perished in a tragic helicopter accident. One year later, on the anniversary of his death, many celebs took to social media to pay tribute to the late L. A Lakers great actor Michael B. Jordan noted that Kobe's death has given him a greater appreciation of family of time and purpose. Jonah Hill posted a pic of Bryant caption simply with two hearts in the Lakers colors. Alex Rodriguez uploaded a compilation of clips and photos of the athlete writing in the caption that Kobe was so much more than just a basketball player and he was destined for even more greatness. His journey was truly just beginning, and it still hurts so much thinking about how much good he had left to do. Jimmy Fallon shared a clip from a favorite interview with the superstar Dwayne Wade also offered an old video of his pal, giving him a hard time during a press conference. Kyrie Irving, who currently plays for the Brooklyn Nets, rocked a Bryant jersey heading into his game against the Miami heat. And Kobe's widow, Vanessa Bryant, posted a touching letter she received from one of her late daughter's friends, writing alongside the image that she will never understand. Why slash how this tragedy could have happened to such beautiful, kind and amazing human beings?
Advertisement
Vanessa Bryant, other victims' families, reach settlement in lawsuit over deadly helicopter crash
Kobe Bryant's widow has agreed to settle a lawsuit against the pilot and owners of the helicopter that crashed last year, killing the NBA star, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others.Vanessa Bryant, her children and relatives of other victims filed a settlement agreement notice Tuesday with a federal judge in Los Angeles but terms of the confidential deal weren't disclosed.If approved by the court, the settlement — first announced by KABC-TV — would end a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit filed against the estate of the pilot and the owner and operator of the helicopter that crashed into a hillside on Jan. 26, 2020.Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and six other passengers were flying from Orange County to a youth basketball tournament at his Mamba Sports Academy in Ventura County. The helicopter encountered thick fog in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.Pilot Ara Zobayan climbed sharply and had nearly broken through the clouds when the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter banked abruptly and plunged into the Calabasas hills below, killing all nine aboard instantly before flames engulfed the wreckage.The others killed were Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa; Christina Mauser, who helped Bryant coach his daughter’s basketball team; and Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton. Alyssa and Payton were Gianna’s teammates.The National Transportation Safety Board released a report in February that blamed pilot error for the crash. The NTSB said a series of poor decisions led Zobayan to fly blindly into a wall of clouds where he became so disoriented he thought he was climbing when the craft was plunging.The agency also faulted Island Express Helicopters Inc. for inadequate review and oversight of safety matters.The settlement agreement would end legal action against Zobayan's estate, Island Express Helicopters Inc. and its owner, Island Express Holding Corp. The suit alleged the companies didn't properly train or supervise Zobayan and that the pilot was careless and negligent to fly in fog and should have aborted the flight.Island Express Helicopters has denied responsibility and said the crash was “an act of God” it couldn’t control. It countersued two Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers, saying the crash was caused by their “series of erroneous acts and/or omissions.”The settlement agreement wouldn't include the countersuit against the federal government.

Kobe Bryant's widow has agreed to settle a lawsuit against the pilot and owners of the helicopter that crashed last year, killing the NBA star, his daughter, Gianna, and seven others.

Vanessa Bryant, her children and relatives of other victims filed a settlement agreement notice Tuesday with a federal judge in Los Angeles but terms of the confidential deal weren't disclosed.

Advertisement

If approved by the court, the settlement — first announced by KABC-TV — would end a negligence and wrongful death lawsuit filed against the estate of the pilot and the owner and operator of the helicopter that crashed into a hillside on Jan. 26, 2020.

Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and six other passengers were flying from Orange County to a youth basketball tournament at his Mamba Sports Academy in Ventura County. The helicopter encountered thick fog in the San Fernando Valley north of Los Angeles.

Pilot Ara Zobayan climbed sharply and had nearly broken through the clouds when the Sikorsky S-76 helicopter banked abruptly and plunged into the Calabasas hills below, killing all nine aboard instantly before flames engulfed the wreckage.

The others killed were Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and their daughter Alyssa; Christina Mauser, who helped Bryant coach his daughter’s basketball team; and Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton. Alyssa and Payton were Gianna’s teammates.

The National Transportation Safety Board released a report in February that blamed pilot error for the crash. The NTSB said a series of poor decisions led Zobayan to fly blindly into a wall of clouds where he became so disoriented he thought he was climbing when the craft was plunging.

The agency also faulted Island Express Helicopters Inc. for inadequate review and oversight of safety matters.

The settlement agreement would end legal action against Zobayan's estate, Island Express Helicopters Inc. and its owner, Island Express Holding Corp. The suit alleged the companies didn't properly train or supervise Zobayan and that the pilot was careless and negligent to fly in fog and should have aborted the flight.

Island Express Helicopters has denied responsibility and said the crash was “an act of God” it couldn’t control. It countersued two Federal Aviation Administration air traffic controllers, saying the crash was caused by their “series of erroneous acts and/or omissions.”

The settlement agreement wouldn't include the countersuit against the federal government.