The pilot of Kobe Bryant’s ill-fated helicopter was flying too low to be monitored in fog, audio records of conversations with air traffic controllers show. The fog was so bad that both the Los Angeles Police Department and Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department grounded their helicopter fleets, the Los Angeles Times reported, citing officials. Air traffic controllers gave the pilot “Special Visual Flight Rules,” or clearance to fly in less than optimal weather around the Burbank airport. Moreover, the pilot apparently requested “flight following,” or constant tracking from controllers, but was informed he was flying too low to be picked up by air traffic control radar. It is unclear if the helicopter pilot heard the comment as it comes near the end of the doomed flight.

Source: National Post January 27, 2020 22:07 UTC