- LeBron James loses it watching teenage sons Bronny and Bryce play together on the court
- Here’s what will happen to LeBron James following NBA’s decision to retire Bill Russell’s No. 6 jersey across league
- Giannis Antetokounmpo says LeBron James is still the best player in the world
- Draymond Green explains why prime Carmelo Anthony was a better scorer than prime Kevin Durant
- Report: Vanessa Bryant cried as her lawyer accused L.A. deputies of sharing Kobe crash scene photos ‘for a laugh’
- LeBron James and Donovan Mitchell unable to contain themselves after Kyle Kuzma drops 67 in pro-am game
- Russell Westbrook’s former teammate hints that Lakers star is preparing for revenge tour this season
- Draymond Green says he isn’t sure 2020 Lakers would’ve won title if they had kept Brandon Ingram over Kyle Kuzma
- Lakers insider says team is trending towards giving up 2 1st-round picks to acquire Kyrie Irving
- Report: Rob Pelinka wants LeBron James to retire a Laker and will provide him ‘every resource possible’ to compete for a title
Report: Kobe Bryant’s Helicopter Pilot Violated FAA Weather-Related Rules
- Updated: February 22, 2020

The details surrounding the tragic death of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant on Jan. 26 continue to unfold, with a new report indicating that Bryant’s helicopter pilot, Ara Zobayan, had previously violated weather-related flight rules in 2015.
That discovery came during a check of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) enforcement records.
The reports indicated that Zobayan had violated FAA rules by crossing into busy airspace with reduced visibility near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on May 11, 2015.
Bryant, his daughter, Gianna, and seven other people, including Zobayan, were killed on the morning of Jan. 26 while en route to a girl’s basketball tournament.
Speculation surfaced after the tragedy that fog may have played a role in the crash.
In the 2015 incident, Zobayan ignored an order from the air traffic controller at LAX.
“According to the FAA report, Zobayan’s helicopter was near the Hawthorne, California, airport and heading north when he asked the LAX tower for permission to cross LAX airspace,” the Associated Press reported. “Zobayan was told that weather conditions didn’t meet the minimum for pilots using visual flight rules (VFR) — that is, flying by sight.
“Zobayan was asked whether he could maintain ‘VFR conditions.’
“Zobayan replied that he could ‘maintain special VFR’ — meaning he sought permission to fly by sight in less-than-optimal visibility.
“When air traffic control denied the request and told him to stay clear of the area, Zobayan replied that he could ‘maintain VFR,’ but during the conversation, the helicopter entered the airspace, according to the record.”
Zobayan was reprimanded for his actions, but was allowed to continue flying.
The news surrounding the tragedy comes just two days before a Monday memorial service for Bryant, his daughter and the other victims will be held at Staples Center.