Vanessa Bryant is suing Island Express Helicopters for the January crash that killed the NBA legend, their daughter, and seven others last month.
They all died in a helicopter crash near Calabasas Jan. 26 with seven others while they were on their way to a girls basketball game at Bryant’s Mamba Sports Academy. She made allegations that the pilot failed to safely operate the aircraft.
In a 72-page complaint filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court Monday, Bryant alleges carelessness on the part of Island Express Helicopters and pilot Ara Zobayan, who died in the crash. She asks for economic damages, punitive damages, and other relief.
The lawsuit comes as thousands gathered at Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles to honor Kobe and Gianna at public memorial service.
The complaint includes, “Doe 1” representative for Zobayan as a defendant, alleges the pilot “failed to properly monitor and assess the weather before takeoff,” “failed to obtain proper weather data prior” to the flight, “failed to abort the flight when he knew of the cloudy conditions,” and “improperly flew the helicopter into instrument flight rules (IFR) conditions,” among other things.point 618 |
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The lawsuit also says Zobayan badly flew the helicopter into conditions that should have required instrument flight rules (IFR). It is something the helicopter was not licensed or certified for, according to the suit.
It is also said that Island Express should have known that Zobayan had been told by the FAA for violating visual flight rules minimums by flying during weather conditions with poor visibility without permission.
The complaint also points out Island Express for not buying and providing its helicopters with a terrain avoidance warning system. It is a safety measure the National Transportation Safety Board has recommended in the past but the FAA has not adopted.
The complaint alleges 28 counts of negligence against Island Express and Zobayan.
Officials are still investigating the reason for the deadly crash and are focused on the weather as a key factor in the investigation.
In addition to Bryant, 41, and his daughter, Gianna, 13, the crash claimed the lives of Payton Chester, 13, Sarah Chester, 45, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Keri Altobelli, 46, John Altobelli, 56, Christina Mauser, 38, and Zobayan, 50.
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