Kobe Bryant’s Former Helicopter Pilot Speaks Out About Condition of the Aircraft & Weather at Time of Crash

Kurt Deetz, a former pilot for Island Express Helicopters, used to fly Kobe Bryant around the Los Angeles area in a helicopter from 2014 to 2016, and he’s speaking out about the conditions of the choppers and the weather conditions on Sunday (January 26).

According to Kurt, the weather conditions for flying that day were “not good at all.”

He mused that the crash was more likely caused by the weather versus anything wrong with the actual aircraft.

“The likelihood of a catastrophic twin engine failure on that aircraft — it just doesn’t happen,” he told the Los Angeles Times.

Kurt added he spent 1,000 hours flying the same aircraft that crashed and the condition of the helicopter was “fantastic.” He compared it to “a Cadillac, a limousine — it’s limo-esque.”

Kurt added he had flown Kobe and his children around and revealed what it was like. “It was always, ‘Hey,’ thumbs up, or sometimes nothing at all. He kept to himself. He would get in, get out, and that was it. There was no hugging, no backslapping — he was very professional,” he said.

Kurt added that he believed the aircraft was traveling very fast at the time of impact and they were likely carrying 800 pounds of fuel, “That’s enough to start a pretty big fire.”

There were nine people on board the aircraft, including Kobe and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna. Here’s what we know about the other confirmed victims. We’re remembering all the stars who we’ve lost this year.

Our thoughts are with all the families and loved ones effected by this horrific tragedy.

Posted To:Kobe Bryant