Kobe Bryant’s wife sues helicopter company that killed hubby and daughter, her claims

Late NBA star, Kobe Bryant’s wife, Vanessa Bryant has sued the company that owned the helicopter that killed her husband and daughter with seven others when it crashed on Sunday 26 January.

The 41-year-old Bryant, and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were on their way to a basketball practice when the helicopter they were in crashed, killing everyone on board.

In the lawuit obtained by TMZ, it was alleged that Island Express was only allowed to fly under visual flight rules, and the situation the day of the crash were not conducive for such flying.

The lawsuit also says the pilot was going 180 miles per hour in the heavy fog in a steep decline.

The lawsuit claims the pilot failed to properly monitor and assess the weather prior to takeoff, failed to obtain proper weather data prior to the flight, failed to abort the flight when he knew of the cloudy condition, failed to maintain control of the helicopter and failed to avoid “natural obstacles” in the flight path.

The lawsuit also says the pilot, Ara George Zobayan, was disciplined in 2015 for violating the visual flight rule minimums by flying into an airspace of reduced visibility.

The case filed also claims the helicopter was not safe, although it doesn’t say what was unsafe. It could be the basis for the claim is that the helicopter was not certified to fly in bad weather.

According to TMZ, the lawsuit does not list an amount of damages sought, but Vanessa is asking for punitive damages, claiming the pilot and Island Express were reckless, and the damages could be many things untold.