LOS ANGELES (AP) — Federal safety officials have blamed the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others on board last year on the pilot’s poor decision to fly into clouds where he became disoriented and plunged into a Southern California hillside. The National Transportation Safety Board on Tuesday said poor visibility because of thick fog north of Los Angeles probably led the pilot to become disoriented. The agency’s findings came after the Jan. 26, 2020 crash led to widespread public mourning for the retired basketball star. Pilot Ara Zobayan frequently flew Bryant. Investigators say he ignored his training and violated federal regulations.
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Mark J. Terrill/AP
FILE - In this Jan. 26, 2020, file photo, firefighters work the scene of a helicopter crash in Calabasas, Calif. Federal safety officials are expected to vote Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021, on what likely caused the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others to crash into a Southern California hillside last year, killing all aboard. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Posted at 10:03 PM, Feb 08, 2021
and last updated 2021-02-09 18:20:51-05
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