Kobe Bryant and Vanessa had a pact to never fly in a helicopter together, according to People magazine.
What’s going on: Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna Bryant died tragically Sunday in a helicopter crash while traveling to a basketball game.
- Bryant preferred to fly using a helicopter. He would often fly between his home in Newport Beach to the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Per the New York Post, Bryant said he would use the helicopter to maximize family time.
The pact: An unnamed source told People magazine that the two made a deal that “they would never fly on a helicopter together.”
- The source did not explain why.
- The source said Bryant would only fly helicopters when Ara Zobayan was his pilot.
Family time: Bryant’s plan for retirement included spending a lot of time with his family, according to People magazine.
- The source said: “One of the biggest things he was looking forward to after retiring from the NBA (in 2016) was getting to spend more time with his family. He was a very hands-on dad and, like any other father, saw such bright futures for all of his daughters.”
- “He was so proud to see them take after not only him and Vanessa, but also grow into their own. He had a special bond with each of his daughters.”
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Correction: This article updated references to Vanessa Williams to read Vanessa Bryant. Vanessa Williams is the ex-wife of Rick Fox, a former teammate of Kobe Bryant.