Kobe Bryant was killed on January 26th, 2020 in a helicopter crash that also killed his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, as well as other passengers who were traveling with them. Bryant had a long and presumably safe history of flying in helicopters. GQ wrote about his preferred method of travel in 2010, saying:
"This is how the 31-year-old co-captain of the Lakers, the eleven-time All-Star, the four-time world champion, the most prolific and accomplished scorer currently drawing breath and an NBA paycheck, commutes. He takes a private helicopter from Orange County, where he lives with his wife and two children, to every home game."
While GQ notes that the helicopter was, quote, "a nice dash of glitz, a touch of showbiz," Bryant explained that the chopper was important due to the many injuries he'd sustained in the past -- injuries which would have made it difficult to sit in LA traffic for hours at a time during his almost-daily 49-mile commute. By opting for the copter, the L.A. Lakers superstar could arrive, quote, "feeling fresh" and ready to play.
Kobe Bryant's helicopter was an undeniably convenient way to get to work, but the star didn't take to the air only to get to NBA games. He also used his helicopter for heartwarming reasons that sometimes involved his family, friends, or fellow NBA pros.
In 2009, Bryant told ESPN, quote "Sometimes, there's just things you cannot miss." When asked for an example of something in his life that he absolutely has to be present for, he answered:
"Like my daughter's soccer game. Because what if I miss her first goal?"
Bryant was also willing to offer up his helicopter to those around him in order to help them out when they needed a quick lift. When Lakers point guard Steve Blake got injured during practice in 2012, Bryant let him fly to the doctor in his helicopter so he wouldn't have to sit in traffic, according to Sports Illustrated.
While there's no question that Bryant was willing to use his helicopter whenever he had a good reason, he also used it to play a prank that legitimately terrified his former boss, L.A. Lakers General Manager Rob Pelinka.
Soon after Bryant's retirement, he took Pelinka out for a helicopter ride. When Bryant gave him the signal, the pilot suddenly began performing military aerial maneuvers designed to terrify Pelinka. Pelinka told the Los Angeles Times:
"I almost had a heart attack. Kobe's just sitting there calm and collected."
Kobe Bryant's helicopter, a Sikorsky S-76, was marketed to "corporate executives for personal transportation," according to Slate. Its design was reportedly inspired by the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopters.
Though the cause of Bryant's deadly crash remains under investigation at this time, multiple reports suggest that a mechanical problem is not suspected. One of Bryant's former pilots, Kurt Deetz, talked to the Los Angeles Times about that particular chopper, saying:
"The likelihood of a catastrophic twin engine failure on that aircraft - it just doesn't happen."
According to Business Insider, the Sikorsky S-76 series of helicopters has a "strong safety record." A site called FlightRadar24 indicated that Bryant's bird had been flown multiple times in recent days.
There's been speculation that weather, particularly severe fog, may have been a factor in the January 26th crash. Both the Los Angeles Police Department and the L.A. County Sheriff's Department had grounded their helicopters that morning due to weather conditions and low visibility, according to the L.A. Times.
As the investigation continues, fans everywhere are searching for ways and words to honor the athlete. L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti referred to Bryant as one of the city's "greatest heroes," while players have been stopping ongoing games out of respect for the NBA legend.
One Twitter user shared a touching moment at a flower shop in the city:
"Bought flowers to bring to staples center. When the florist saw that I wanted purple and yellow she asked, 'for Kobe?' I nodded. When she finished I asked what I owed her. She shook her head, handed me the flowers and said 'it's LA'. I almost cried. LAs love for Kobe is powerful."
Watch the video to see how Kobe Bryant Had A Long History Of Flying In Helicopters.
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