New investigation into the devastating helicopter accident: Around two weeks after the helicopter crash near Los Angeles, which claimed seven more fatalities in addition to Kobe Bryant (1978-2020) and his daughter Gianna (2006-2020), the investigative agency published one first interim report. As the responsible National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) announced, no signs of possible engine damage were found.
A classic engine failure can therefore be excluded. In addition, all essential and relevant parts of the crashed helicopter were found around the accident site, which are needed for further investigation. The individual parts suggested that the helicopter's drive was working perfectly at the time of the accident. A final report on the exact cause of the accident could be expected in a year at the earliest.
The authority also does not rule out that the extreme weather conditions at the time of the accident caused the crash. Shortly after the crash, numerous media – partly supported by expert opinions and eyewitness reports – speculated that thick fog could have been a likely cause of the crash. Accordingly, the pilot may have lost orientation. At the time of the crash, clouds of fog were moving through the Los Angeles metropolitan area.