Published 14:32 IST, January 29th 2020
Kobe Bryant's pilot also flew Clippers star Kawhi Leonard, NBA insider reveals
A report from an NBA insider says that LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard often flew with the same pilot who was in charge of the helicopter with Kobe Bryant.
- SportFit
- 3 min read
News of the death of Kobe Bryant sent shockwaves across the sporting fraternity this week. There was an outpour of support for Kobe Bryant's family after the tragedy. A number of players in the NBA paid tribute to Kobe Bryant on the court, with Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young and the Washington Wizards taking eight-second and 24-second violations during their game at the Phillips Arena earlier this week. The Lakers vs Clippers match-up was also postponed in wake of the incident. Reports have now emerged that Clippers star Kawhi Leonard often worked with the pilot who was handling the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others.
Clippers star Kawhi Leonard often employed the same pilot as Kobe Bryant
Ara Zobayan was the man who was entrusted with taking Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant, Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa to the Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks just outside the city. According to audio recordings between Zobayan and air traffic control, Zobayan had received Special Visual Flight Rules (SVFR) clearance moments before the flight.
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NBA insider Chris Haynes reported that Kawhi Leonard often worked with the same pilot. He also had a close relationship with Kobe Bryant, like a number of NBA stars. According to a prominent newspaper in Los Angeles, Zobayan was an experienced pilot and certified flight instructor with more than 8,000 hours of flight time.
Kobe Bryant helicopter crash update
The Los Angeles County coroner's office said that all the nine bodies of the victims of the helicopter crash were recovered and have been "transported to the department's Forensic Science Center," the coroner's department said in a statement. Developments in the 'Kobe Bryant helicopter crash update' story say that heavy fog in the area that limited visibility and low altitude for Zoboyan’s flight are the major factors for the crash.
Updated 14:32 IST, January 29th 2020