Los Angeles Police and the sheriff’s department had both grounded their helicopters in the morning because of the weather.<\/p>\n
A police spokesman told the LA Times the conditions “did not meet our minimum standards for flying”, while a pilot who used to fly Bryant said the weather was almost certainly to blame.<\/p>\n
“The likelihood of a catastrophic twin engine failure on that aircraft – it just doesn’t happen,” Kurt Deetz told the paper.<\/p>\n
The helicopter was held up to allow for other aircraft and circled for about 15 minutes until it got clearance from air traffic controllers to continue.<\/p>\n
The controllers mention poor visibility around the Burbank and Van Nuys areas, but the pilot talks to controllers normally before communication suddenly goes dead near the crash site at Calabasas.<\/p>\n
“You’re still too low level for flight following at this time,” the pilot is told.<\/p>\n
Seconds later, the helicopter disappears from radar.<\/p>\n
It was travelling at speed – 153knots (176mph) – when it crashed into the hillside, according to tracking site Flightradar24.<\/p>\n
The Federal Aviation Authority said the aircraft was a Sikorsky S-76.<\/p>\n
Bryant, 41, often used a helicopter to get to games at the Staples Center – the Los Angeles Lakers’ home arena.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Kobe & Shaquille Oneil<\/em><\/p>\n He reportedly found it more comfortable than fitting his 6ft 6in frame into a car for several hours and referred to it as the “Mamba Chopper” after his nickname.<\/p>\n The S-76 has a strong safety record, mainly attributed to its two engines which power the main rotor and tail rotors.<\/p>\n Aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, which makes the helicopter, released a statement saying more than 875 had been delivered globally, with many used for critical missions such as search and rescue and air ambulances.<\/p>\n It said the aircraft had notched up “more than 7.4 million hours of safe, successful flight”.<\/p>\n Justin Green, an New York aviation lawyer who flew in the Marine Corps, said pilots can become disoriented in poor visibility and lose track of which direction is up.<\/p>\n However, he added that an S-76 pilot would be instrument-rated and therefore should be able to fly “blind” – just relying on the read-outs and without visual cues.<\/p>\n Kobe & Wife of 20 years Vanessa.<\/em><\/p>\n Bryant and the others in the chopper were understood to have been heading to a children’s basketball tournament organised by a sport foundation that Bryant set up.<\/p>\n There were no survivors.<\/p>\n Other victims named so far include Orange Coast College head baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa – who played on the same basketball team as Bryant’s daughter.<\/p>\n The girls’ coach Christina Mauser also died, her husband confirmed.<\/p>\n Debris is spread out over an area the size of a football field and the rugged terrain is expected to complicate recovery efforts.<\/p>\n Gianna was one of four daughters Bryant had with wife Vanessa.<\/p>\n The teenager played basketball in the Los Angeles Lady Mamba team. His other daughters were Natalia, Bianka and Capri.<\/p>\n Orange Coast College paid tribute to baseball coach, John Altobelli, 56, who died with his wife and daughter.<\/p>\n It said: “John meant so much to not only Orange Coast College, but to baseball. He truly personified what it means to be a baseball coach.<\/p>\n “The passion that he put into the game, but more importantly his athletes, was second to none – he treated them like family. Our deepest condolences go out to the Altobelli family during this time of tragedy.”<\/p>\n The husband of basketball coach Christine Mauser posted on Facebook: “My kids and I are devastated.<\/p>\n “We lost our beautiful wife and mom today in a helicopter crash. Please respect our privacy. Thank you for all the well wishes they mean so much.”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/mogulmagazine.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Kobe-Bryant-Dead-1233762.jpg\")
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