GettyA mural depicting Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna by artist Mr Brainwash is seen in Los Angeles.
Kobe Bryant’s autopsy revealed his cause of death and details on the helicopter crash that claimed his life along with the lives of his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Bryant, and seven others including friends and a coach.
No one survived the crash January 26, 2020 in Calabasas, California. The nine victims died from blunt force trauma, according to reports issued by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner. You can read more details about the crash, text messages sent before the flight and a report on the crash from the National Transportation Safety Board here.
The group was on their way to Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks for a youth basketball tournament when they crashed into a mountainside. The deceased were Gianna Bryant’s friends and teammates, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, and Payton Chester, 13, their parents, John Altobelli, 56, Keri Altobelli, 46, and Sarah Chester, 45, coach Christina Mauser, 39, and pilot Ara Zobayan, 50.
The tragic crash is back in the news for a trial that started August 10, 2022, regarding photos graphic photos from the crash.
Here’s what you need to know:
Autopsy Reports Reveal the Brutality of the Crash That Killed 9 People Instantly
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The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner-Coroner issued a report saying Bryant died from blunt force trauma and ruled his manner of death as an accident. He was 41 years old when he died in Calabasas, California January 26, 2020.
The full autopsy report describes the brutality of the crash through the injuries it caused, including dismemberment and burns that left several of its victims unrecognizable. However, those killed in the crash were not left to suffer, Bryant’s autopsy report noted.
“These injuries are rapidly if not instantly fatal,” Senior Deputy Medical Examiner Juan Carrillo wrote in Bryant’s report.
Flames engulfed the helicopter wreckage, but burns to the bodies were determined to be caused after they were already dead, the report said. Kobe Bryant had post-mortem burns on 30% of his body.
Bryant’s body was found on the ground outside the helicopter. He was identified by his fingerprints, the report said. However, there were small details that were preserved and captured his personal life and personality. The report said he was wearing “multicolored court shoes.” On his shoulder was a tattoo of a crown and his wife’s name, Vanessa. On his lower right arm, he had tattooed the names of four of his five daughters: Bianka Bella, Natalia Diamante and Gianna Maria-Onore.
His youngest daughter, Capri Kobe, was 7 months old when her dad died, according to ESPN.
There Were No Signs of Mechanical Failure That Led to the Crash & No Drugs Were Listed as Contributing Factors
‘Superstar: Kobe Bryant’ | Watch the emotional all-new event special premiering tonight at 10|9c on ABC – and stream on Hulu.
The pilot did not have drugs or alcohol in his system, his autopsy report said. The report noted that Bryant had a prescribed drug in his system, methylphenidate, which is sold under the brand name Ritalin for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy.
A report from the National Transportation Safety Board said there were no signs of mechanical failure in the Sikorsky S-76B. There were low clouds obscuring the hillside and fog. Text messages showed discussions about the weather in the hours leading up to the crash, but they determined it would be safe to fly. Read more about that here.
A press release from the NTSB issued in February 2021 said that the pilot executed “poor decision making” in the decision to fly. He experienced “spatial disorientation and loss of control” that led to the fatal crash, the press release said.
“Unfortunately, we continue to see these same issues influence poor decision making among otherwise experienced pilots in aviation crashes,” said NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. “Had this pilot not succumbed to the pressures he placed on himself to continue the flight into adverse weather, it is likely this accident would not have happened. A robust safety management system can help operators like Island Express provide the support their pilots need to help them resist such very real pressures.”
READ NEXT: Kobe Bryant Crash Text Messages Provide Window Into His Last Hours
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FAQs
The pilot of the helicopter that crashed in January, killing Mr. Bryant and eight others, didn't have alcohol or drugs in his system. The victims all died from blunt trauma.
What was the autopsy of Kobe Bryant's accident? ›
A post-mortem examination of the helicopter crash that killed basketball star Kobe Bryant has ruled blunt force trauma as the cause of death for all nine victims.
What was the autopsy report of Kobe Bryant's daughter? ›
The report revealed that the cause of death was blunt force trauma sustained in the helicopter crash. Multiple severe and fatal injuries were found on Gigi's head, neck, and extremities, with no evidence of drugs, alcohol, or smoke inhalation. Her body was unrecognizable due to extensive damage from the crash.
What caused Kobe's helicopter to crash? ›
The pilot violated flight rules by flying into the clouds, where he became disoriented and lost control of the helicopter, the National Transportation Safety Board said.
What is the truth about Kobe Bryant death? ›
The recently retired Los Angeles Lakers superstar was 41 when he was killed a little more than one year ago. A helicopter pilot's "spatial disorientation" played a key role in the crash that killed basketball legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter and several friends last year, federal authorities said Tuesday.
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.
Did Kobe ever get surgery? ›
Kobe Bryant's surgery to repair a torn Achilles' tendon was successful, however the Los Angeles Lakers star will be sidelined for at least six to nine months as he recuperates, the team and doctors said today.
What was Gigi Bryant's cause of death? ›
Gianna Maria-Onore Bryant (May 1, 2006 — January 26, 2020), also known as Gigi Bryant and Mambacita, was an American student-athlete and the daughter of former professional basketball player Kobe Bryant. Together with her father and seven others, she died in a helicopter crash in 2020 at age 13.
Where did Kobe crash? ›
Nine people, including Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, were on a helicopter when it crashed into a hillside four years ago Jan. 26 in the Calabasas area northwest of Los Angeles.
What happened to Kobe and his mom? ›
Prior to his death, Kobe and his parents reportedly attempted to make amends after several fallouts that began when he started dating Vanessa. Joe and Pamela didn't attend the couple's wedding in April 2001. Over the years, their brief reconciliations were documented, but that came to a halt in 2013.
Flames engulfed the wreckage, but burns on the bodies were determined to have occurred after death. Bryant's body was found on one side of the wreckage, and his daughter's was found in a ravine on the opposite side.
Who survived the helicopter crash? ›
President Ruto identifies the two survivors of the Thursday military helicopter crash as Lieutenant Colonel Kasaine Ole Kuruta and Corporal Frankford Karanja, says they are in fair condition.
What was Kobe Bryant's post mortem? ›
Kobe's autopsy report recently became available, and it is evident that if Kobe did not suffer blunt force trauma he still would not have survived. He had multiple fractures to the skull causing his brain to spill out.
What is Kobe Bryant cause of death? ›
Countless tributes were held to honor Bryant, his daughter and the others killed in the crash. On Jan. 26, 2020, basketball star Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and seven others died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
How rich is Vanessa Bryant? ›
There is no doubt that one of the greatest basketball players of all time is Kobe Bryant, but after his sudden death in 2020 due to a helicopter crash, his wife Vanessa Bryant has been under the spotlight. She has dedicated her life to her daughters and to philanthropic work with a net worth estimated in $600 million.
What was the autopsy on Ara Zobayan? ›
Autopsy: Kobe Bryant's pilot, Ara Zobayan, had no drugs or alcohol in system. May 15 (UPI) -- Ara Zobayan, the helicopter pilot of Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant and seven others during their fatal crash in January, didn't have any drugs or alcohol in his system, according to autopsies released Friday.
How much was the settlement for Kobe Bryant's death? ›
Los Angeles Lakers icon Kobe Bryant, 41; his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant; and seven other people died in the crash in Calabasas, near the Southern California coast, northwest of Los Angeles. The almost $30 million settlement includes the $15 million awarded to Vanessa Bryant by a jury in August, Hashmall said.
What is meant by autopsy in medical? ›
An autopsy is a medical examination of a body after death. Pathologists perform autopsies to try to find the specific cause and manner of death. There are two types of autopsies: forensic and clinical.
Who was at fault for Kobe Bryant's death? ›
The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that pilot Ara Zobayan's decision to fly into the clouds violated federal standards that required him to be able to see where he was going before the helicopter crashed during a roughly 40-minute flight.
