Kobe Bryant’s pilot reportedly violated weather-related flight rules in 2015

The pilot who flew Kobe Bryant’s helicopter through thick fog and into a cliff violated weather-related flight rules in 2015, according to a new report.

Ara Zobayan was flagged by the Federal Aviation Administration in May 2015 for ignoring an air traffic controller’s directive to stay out of Los Angeles International Airport’s airspace, the Los Angeles Times reported. 

Zobayan “took responsibility for his action, and was willing to take any other necessary steps toward compliance,” the records state, noting “there are no indications that this is a repeated incident and there are no signs that this incident is a trend with Mr. Zobayan.”

Bryant’s helicopter was just 12 seconds from clearing thick fog when it crashed into the Calabasas hillside Jan. 26, killing the basketball star, his 13-year-old daughter, Zobayan and four others on board.

Zobayan was 100 feet away from exiting heavy cloud cover when, instead of continuing to increase altitude, he made a left turn and crashed into the terrain at 180 mph, according to a preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board.

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