Basketball Tragedy | Here’s What Really Happened to Kobe Bryant’s Helicopter (Final Report)

Find out why the helicopter carrying professional basketball player Kobe Bryant and eight more people crashed in the city of Calabasas, California, around 30 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles (with real audio).

The NTSB recently published its final report on the accident of N72EX, and so the "Basketball Tragedy" video had to be updated. This new video features better information about what happened on board the flight.

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This video has been recorded and edited in 4K resolution and 60FPS.

[theflightchannel]

The NTSB recently published its final report on the accident of N72EX, and so the "Basketball Tragedy" video had to be updated. This new video features better information about what happened on board the flight. Once again, I would like to express my deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their loved ones on board the helicopter. 😢

[thefreedomguyuk]

The single most important qualification of a commercial aviator is the courage to say "No!". It may cost you a job or two, but it will also on occasion save your life.

[jimmyrodriguez]

Scariest thing about flying isn’t so much the mechanical aspects of an aircraft but the fact that you are at the mercy of one or a few persons that can ultimately make grave mistakes that cost lives.

[markpomerhn]

Extreme fog conditions need to be acknowledged and respected especially when considering taking a helicopter flight.

[rotorheadv]

As a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot and Marine Flight instructor who spent most of that time conducting instrument flight training, this just makes my head hurt. Why didn’t he bring another pilot with him? If another pilot wasn’t available, sometimes you gotta say “Nope. Not in this”

I still remember that morning. My job at that time required me wake up early. The fog was so thick I could hardly see down the road I was driving on. When my coworker told me about this tragedy, I intuitively thought about the fog I saw. RIP to everyone on that helicopter.

[TealAstronaut]

Sometimes saying no and disappointing someone is better than doing something you know is wrong

[lynfield]

It's much better to be sitting on the ground wishing you were up in the air, than up in the air wishing you were on the ground.

[TheDornado]

The helicopter flew over my house in Burbank shortly before crashing. As a pilot I remember looking up and seeing it and thinking "what fool is flying in these conditions." The helicopter had to stay way too low because of the clouds. It was the thickest layer I had seen in years. Trying to scud run in VFR was just asking for a tragedy to happen. It was 100% an IFR only type of day.

[ZhangtheGreat]

For anyone unaware: spatial disorientation is arguably a pilot's worst enemy. At certain altitudes and within certain settings/environments, pilots can become so disoriented that their senses are removed from reality, and by the time they notice that they've been betrayed by their senses, it's often too late. It's why pilots are trained to trust their instruments over their senses. Spatial disorientation has led to so many crashes, including the one that killed JFK Jr.

[J_]

I remember that morning it was so incredibly foggy that even driving seemed dangerous. That a helicopter was allowed to fly in those conditions is absolutely nuts

[donnamcclymont]

It’s been 2 years and my heart is still broken! RIP to all on the helicopter 🙏🏿

[Chicken_Nugget]

I won't put one man's name above anybody else's in this accident. R.I.P. to all on board both passengers & crew.

[taze]

Let this terrible tragedy be a hard lesson to anyone who believes its safe to fly in less than ideal conditions next time they fly. Rest in peace Kobe, Gianna and the other souls.

[bmstyle]

The pressure of having Kobe on board and having to say "hey Kobe, No can do today, get a limo to take you" is what caused the crash. The courage to do that is harder than flying any machine. It's a risk he took and had he landed safely, we wouldn't be talking about it. Unfortunately, the gamble wasn't favorable this time and the scary thing is that this is happening today as we speak and we don't hear about it because they are landing safely but sooner or later...another one will make a bad decision.

[LifeisaBeautifulting]

I still remember this day vividly. The worst thing about this tragedy was the way new outlets handled it. Vanessa Bryant found out about her husband and child's death the same way we did and that's so sickening

[davidharrison]

Damn! The media acted as though Kobe and his daughter GiGi were the ONLY ones aboard that helicopter.
There were a total of NINE people on board that were killed in that accident.

[pockynon]

It is very difficult to say “no” to these high profile clients. I always thought it was ridiculous to take a helicopter for these insanely short distances because you didn’t want to deal with traffic. Helicopters are difficult to fly and take great skill but this is celebrity privilege at its worst.

[Error-trke]

Can't believe it's been almost 2 years, feels like it was just yesterday when I heard this news at the office. RIP to Kobe, his daughter and all those who died at the crash.

[fernfunk]

a delay is always better than a disaster