• Facebook
  • Google Plus
  • Instagram
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter

Menu

Skip to content
  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
Header image

MyNewsLA.comLogo

Breaking news for greater Los Angeles and Orange County

Menu

Skip to content
  • Crime
  • Government
  • Business
  • Education
  • Sports
  • Hollywood
  • Life
  • OC
  • One Person Dies in Offroad Crash outside Riverside, One Injured
  • Garden Grove Police Lieutenant, 59, Dies from COVID-19 Complications
  • Driver Dies in Fiery Crash in Brea
  • Man, 20, Fatally Shot in Car, Driver Found Seriously Wounded in Panorama City
  • Gardena Police Find Man Gravely Wounded After Being Shot in the Head

Home » Crime » This Article

Second Helicopter Company Sued in Fatal Kobe Bryant Crash

Posted by Contributing Editor on September 22, 2020 in Crime | Leave a response
Share this article:
Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Vanessa Bryant is suing a second helicopter company stemming from the crash in Calabasas in January that killed Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and eight others, alleging the Santa Ana-based firm’s owner and founder suggested the route for the ill-fated flight and should have aborted it.

The amended Los Angeles Superior Court suit filed Friday additionally names OC Helicopters LLC, which allegedly provided the flight operations for the chopper owned by Island Express Helicopters Inc. and piloted by Ara George Zobayan. A woman who answered the phone at OC Helicopters on Tuesday declined to comment.

According to the amended suit, OC Helicopters owner and founder Richard Webb “suggested the route for this subject fatal flight to Zobayan.”

OC Helicopters “improperly failed to tell the Island Express pilot Ara George Zobayan to abort or cancel the flight or turn around when its agent and employee, Richard Webb, was in communications with defendant Zobayan and monitoring the weather during the flight,” the suit states.

Webb personally checked and monitored weather conditions every hour and told Zobayan that based on the weather reports, the flight “was doable and was a good flight plan,” the suit alleges.

Webb continued to review weather updates and communicate with Zobayan and sent Zobayan a final weather-related text 20 minutes after the crash, according to the amended complaint.

Webb regularly discussed weather and routes with Island Express pilots prior to and during flights, according to the amended complaint.

Zobayan’s estate and Island Express Helicopters were originally named as defendants when the suit was filed Feb. 24.

Attorneys for the 38-year-old Vanessa Bryant filed additional court papers Friday seeking dismissal of Island Express’ cross-complaint against air-traffic controllers the company blames for the crash, calling the legal effort a “transparent and untenable attempt to forum-shop their way into federal court” and deprive their client of her preference that the case be tried in state court.

Like this story? Don’t miss any breaking news from MyNewsLA.com. Sign up here for your free newsletter.

 

The Island Express cross-complaint contends the crash was “caused by a series of erroneous acts and/or omissions” by a pair of air-traffic controllers at Southern California TRACON, or terminal radar approach control. But Vanessa Bryant’s attorneys maintain the Island Express claim can only be heard in federal court and that “fortunately, and unsurprisingly, California law prevents such an attempt to abuse and manipulate federal law.”

The helicopter, a 1991 Sikorsky S76B piloted by Zobayan, crashed amid heavy fog on Jan. 26 on a Calabasas hillside, killing Zobayan and his eight passengers, including the 41-year-old Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

At least four lawsuits have been filed against Island Express Helicopters in the months since the crash, including those by relatives of other passengers aboard the aircraft.

Second Helicopter Company Sued in Fatal Kobe Bryant Crash was last modified: September 22nd, 2020 by Contributing Editor

>> Want to read more stories like this? Get our Free Daily Newsletters Here!

Follow us:
Facebooktwitterrss
Posted in Crime | Tagged Bryant, company, Crash, fatal, helicopter, Kobe, second, Sued

Advertisement

Get The Latest News by Email!

Sign up here for our free newsletters. We’ll send you the latest headlines every morning and every weekday afternoon.

 
FORECAST FOR LOS ANGELES
66°
Clear
Feels like: 66°F
Wind: 0mph S
Humidity: 26%
Pressure: 29.95"Hg
UV index: 0
MonTueWed
81/52°F
68/54°F
77/52°F
Weather forecast Los Angeles, California ▸

Most Popular Today

  • Rosemead Woman Missing over a Week Located 3,600 views
  • Rescue Attempt Underway for Injured Mountain Biker 2,400 views
  • Rape Victim Unconscious, But She’s Dead! Suspect Nabbed, Unclear When Victim Died In Pomona 2,200 views
  • Man Rushed To Hospital From Traffic Crash in Laguna Hills 1,400 views
  • Average Riverside County Gas Price Rises To Highest Amount Since March 18 1,200 views

©2021 CalNews Inc.

Menu

  • About
  • Staff
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • FAQ
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service