Kobe Bryant, the NBA legend the world has mourned collectively for the last day, once shared how owning his own helicopter brought ease to his family life.
The 41-year-old, his 13-year-old Gianna and seven other friends were killed when the former Los Angeles Laker’s Sikorsky S-76 crashed into a hillside near Calabasas, California. The crash happened about 10 a.m. Sunday local time, about 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Bryant was traveling to coach his daughter’s game in Thousand Oaks, California.
More on Kobe Bryant’s death and the crash:
Taking a multimillion-dollar aircraft to a kid’s basketball game likely seems like an unusual choice, even for one of the most influential players of professional basketball. The helicopter, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, seats 12 passengers, reaches a top speed of 178 mph and costs about $12 million, according to the manufacturer’s website.
In a detail that at the time seemed inconsequential, Bryant explained to an interviewer why he opted to use a helicopter for practical, daily use. He was interviewed by his friend and fellow athletic legend Alex Rodriguez and Big Cat in a December 2018 interview.
In the 25-minute interview, he talked about his career as a five-time NBA champion, his favorite players and games and one of his favorite topics, his family.
He spoke about how Los Angeles traffic made it difficult to make it to his children’s various activities. He said the challenge began to be too much when the events he missed due to traffic started“mounting.”
He said he started using a helicopter before he retired from the Lakers in 2016. With advent of the quick travel option, Bryant said he could get up in the morning to see his children off, train for games with weights during the day, handle media requests and still make it back to his daughters’ school.
"Traffic started getting really bad. I had to figure out a way where I could still train and still focus on the craft but still not compromise family time. That's when I looked into helicopters — to be able to get down and back in 15 minutes." — Kobe Bryant, in a 2018 interview
Bryant had been married to his wife Vanessa for about 20 years. The couple raised four children together: Natalia, Gianna, Bianka and Capri.
Since Bryant had to travel several weeks out of the year, being able to get to his children’s activities and school was priority. His wife told him she could carry the load of school pickup when he was in town, but Bryant said those short car rides were significant for him.
“You have road trips and time where you don’t see your kids, man,” he said during the interview. “So, every time I get to see them and spend time with them — even if it’s just 20 minutes in the car, I want that.”
Watch the full interview with Bryant here:
FAQs
Kobe goes on to explain that traveling via helicopter allowed him to meet his obligations for work while getting home in time to pick his daughters up from school. Even when his wife Vanessa offered to take over pick up duty, Kobe insisted. “You have road trips and times where you don't see your kids.
What happened with Kobe Bryant's helicopter? ›
on january 26 2020 basketball legend Kobe Bryant, His 13 year old daughter, Gianna and seven others were killed in *** helicopter crash in calabasas California. They were on their way to Jonah's basketball game when foggy conditions caused the helicopter to crash into the hillside.
How often did Kobe use his helicopter? ›
Flight records show the same helicopter made frequent trips around Los Angeles County and Orange County, where Bryant has lived. Since Jan. 1, the helicopter made 42 trips, including 16 that landed at John Wayne Airport in Orange County, according to FlightAware.
Where was Kobe flying to when he died? ›
Kobe Bryant
The 41-year-old Lakers great and others on the helicopter were flying to the Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park for a girls basketball tournament. Bryant often took helicopters to avoid Los Angeles' notorious traffic.
Were the bodies intact from the helicopter crash? ›
The reports by the Los Angeles County coroner's office provide a clinical but unvarnished look at just how brutal the crash was, describing broken bones, dismembered body parts and a stench of fuel on what remained of clothing that burned.
Where was Kobe going when he was in the helicopter? ›
Bryant regularly traveled by helicopter to avoid the city's notorious traffic, and on the morning of Jan. 26, 2020, he was taking his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and her friends and their family members to a youth basketball tournament.
Did Gianna Bryant pass away? ›
Did Kobe own his helicopter? ›
The helicopter was owned and operated by a company called Island Express, Federal Aviation Administration records show, and was previously owned by the state of Illinois.
How big was Kobe's helicopter? ›
Bryant, 41, was traveling with his 13-year-old daughter to his youth basketball academy when they and seven other people perished in the crash. The helicopter had been given special approval to fly around Burbank in foggy weather. Size: 52 feet 6 inches long, 10 feet wide, 14 feet 6 inches tall.
Were 9 people on Kobe Bryant's helicopter? ›
Remembering Kobe Bryant 4 years later
Jan. 26, 2024 marks four years since the world lost baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri, and their daughter Alyssa; NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi; Payton Chester and her mother, Sarah; educator and basketball coach Christina Mauser, and pilot Ara Zobayan.
LOS ANGELES — Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, were buried Friday in a cemetery near the family's Southern California home, according to death certificates.
Where is Kobe buried? ›
The small cemetery where Kobe Bryant is buried contains the graves of some notable people — including one arguably as famous as the basketball star. Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, were buried Friday at Pacific View Memorial Park in Newport Beach. They were killed Jan. 26 in a helicopter crash.
Who was the boy who survived the helicopter crash? ›
Nicholas Tadros was on board one of two helicopters that collided mid-air near Sea World on January 2, killing his mother Vanessa Tadros, British couple Ron and Diane Hughes, and pilot Ashley Jenkinson.
Can someone survive a helicopter crash? ›
“A copter crash slams you back and forth, so that can hurt your back, knees, feet, hands, arms, and neck,” he said. “But with a good brace, you can survive some really tremendous impacts.”
What happens to a human body in a helicopter crash? ›
These injuries cause cardiovascular system trauma; 47.6% had a ruptured heart and 35% also had a ruptured aorta. “More than two thirds of the fatalities had abdominal injury… The solid abdominal organs were frequently ruptured.” There were ruptures of the liver and spleen in 42.3% of cases and kidneys in 23.5%.
What is the cause of helicopter crash? ›
Failing to properly plan a flight path. Failing to adequately maintain the helicopter. Failing to operate the craft properly. Operating the helicopter in unsafe conditions.
Who was Christina Mauser? ›
At the time of the disaster, the nine people on board were headed to a basketball game at Kobe's Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park, where the Lakers legend was scheduled to coach Gianna's team. Christina Mauser, a mother of three, was an assistant basketball coach at the academy.
When did Kobe Bryant's helicopter go down? ›
Where is Gianna Bryant buried? ›
Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were buried Feb. 7 in a private ceremony in Corona del Mar, California, according to death certificates released Tuesday by Los Angeles County officials. The burial occurred at Pacific View Memorial Park, which is near the family's home in Orange County.
