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Vanessa Bryant Files Wrongful Death Lawsuit: ‘Pilot Was Reckless’

Placeholder Shilloutte User Image Andrea Swindall - Pop Culture Writer February 24th, 2020
HOLLYWOOD, CA - MARCH 04: Kobe Bryant (R) and Vanessa Laine Bryant attend the 90th Annual Academy Awards Governors Ball at Hollywood & Highland Center on March 4, 2018 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

TMZ is reporting that Vanessa Bryant is filing a wrongful death lawsuit against the company the owned the helicopter whose crash killed her husband, daughter, and seven other victims. They explain, “The lawsuit alleges 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. The lawsuit also says the pilot was going 180 miles per hour in the heavy fog in a steep decline.”

TMZ is also claiming that in the lawsuit, it says that Ara George Zobayan, the helicopter pilot, was disciplined in 2015 for violating the visual flight rule minimums by flying into an airspace of reduced visibility.  In regards to conditions the day of Kobe’s crash, they explain, “The helicopter was not safe, although it doesn’t say what was unsafe. It could be the basis for the claim is that the helicopter was not certified to fly in bad weather.”
The specifics of the damages sought have not been specified, but Vanessa is asking for punitive damages. TMZ lastly adds that Vanessa feels that the pilot and Island Express were reckless. “Damages could be untold millions.”

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