Kobe Bryant helicopter crash pilot became disorientated in clouds, agency says

Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna died in the crash (AP/Chris Carlson, file)

US safety investigators have said the pilot of US basketball star Kobe Bryant’s helicopter flew through the clouds last year in an apparent violation of federal standards.

Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said that pilot Ara Zobayan was flying under visual flight rules, which meant that he needed to be able to see where he was going.