Kawhi Leonard Confirmed He's Flown With Same Helicopter Pilot Involved in Kobe Bryant's Tragic Accident
By Jackson Thompson
Ara Zobayan was the pilot flying Kobe Bryant's helicopter during the accident that cost them their lives, the life of Bryant's daughter and several other passengers on Sunday. Bryant wasn't the only NBA Star that Zoboyan was employed by.
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard shared Zoboyan's services with Bryant. Leonard was signed by the Clippers this past offseason, and has used Zoboyan as a personal helicopter pilot since moving the Los Angeles area, Yahoo Sports senior NBA insider Chris Haynes reports.
Leonard and Bryant were close personal friends. Tuesday’s game between the Lakers and the Clippers was postponed out of respect for Bryant, his family and the Lakers organization.
Kawhi confirmed that he flew with pilot Ara Zobayan in the same helicopter that crashed on Sunday. “Flown with him a lot. Great guy, super nice, he was one of their best pilots. That’s a guy who you ask for. It’s just surreal still for me...he’s a good dude.”
— Louis Keene (@thislouis) January 29, 2020
Zoboyan was a top-rated helicopter pilot and flight instructor. Following the news of his death, many of his former students took to social media to express condolences for their former instructor.
“Ara was an incredible pilot, instructor pilot, charter pilot and truly a great man,” fellow pilot Jared Joachim wrote Monday on Facebook. “He was not your typical egotistical helicopter pilot like most of us honestly are.”
Also, according to records, Ara was instrument rated. That means he was rated to fly in fog/clouds.
— Christina Pascucci (@ChristinaKTLA) January 27, 2020
KTLA’s Christina Pascucci, who is also a licensed pilot, says public records show Zobayan was instrument rated, meaning that as a pilot he was rated to fly in less-than-ideal visibility conditions.