Report: Kobe Bryant and His Wife Made a Pact to ‘Never Fly on a Helicopter Together’

In the wake of the tragic death of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and seven other people, a new report indicates that Bryant and his wife, Vanessa, had made a pact never to ride on a helicopter together.

“He and Vanessa had a deal that they would never fly on a helicopter together,” a source told People Monday.

Among those killed on the ill-fated flight was Kobe Bryant’s long-time pilot, who the source says had the implicit trust of Kobe Bryant.

“The same source also told PEOPLE that Bryant ‘only’ flew in helicopters with pilot Ara Zobayan, who was among those killed in the crash,” Maria Pasquini wrote.

Kobe Bryant began taking helicopter flights even before he retired in 2016, in an effort to avoid heavy traffic. The tragic flight on Sunday morning was headed to a girls basketball game in which Kobe Bryant was going to serve as a coach.

The devastating news has resulted in an outpouring of grief across the globe, especially among NBA players who both played against him and saw him as an idol growing up. Tributes to Kobe Bryant commenced almost immediately after news of his death broke on Sunday.