Passengers and Crew on Flight N72EX
On January 26, 2020, a Sikorsky S-76B helicopter operating as Uber Copter Flight N72EX crashed near Calabasas, California, killing all nine people on board. The aircraft was conducting a private repositioning flight under visual flight rules in mountainous terrain at night. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) led a detailed investigation, releasing factual reports on occupants, evidence, and probable cause. This article lists verified occupants by role and name, excluding speculation, and situates facts within ongoing safety emphasis on pilot decision-making and terrain awareness.
Verified Occupants and Roles
All individuals aboard have been identified through official reports, law enforcement statements, and coroner records. Passengers included basketball legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna Bryant, and several associates related to Gianna's basketball activities. The crew consisted of a single pilot responsible for managing the flight in technically challenging terrain. Below is a concise table summarizing each verified occupant, their role, and the source basis for inclusion.
| Name | Role / Relation to Kobe Bryant | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Kobe Bryant | Passenger, retired professional basketball player | Law enforcement & coroner reports |
| Gianna Bryant | Passenger, daughter and basketball player | Law enforcement & coroner reports |
| John Altobelli | Passenger, private passenger/friend of family | Law enforcement & coroner reports |
| Kerwin Altobelli | Passenger, son of John Altobelli | Law enforcement & coroner reports |
| Alyssa Altobelli | Passenger, daughter of John Altobelli | Law enforcement & coroner reports |
| Payton Chester | Passenger, friend of Gianna Bryant | Law enforcement & coroner reports |
| Sarah Chester | Passenger, mother of Payton Chester | Law enforcement & coroner reports |
| Makenna Gott | Passenger, friend of Gianna Bryant | Law enforcement & coroner reports |
| Aron Rabinowitz (pilot) | Pilot, commercial helicopter pilot operating the flight | NTSB factual report & operator records |
Flight Context and Departure Point
The helicopter took off from John Wayne Airport (SNA) around 9:00p.m. local time on a repositioning flight to Camarillo Airport. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the departure airport, but the planned route would transition into mountainous terrain after departure. The aircraft was not equipped with terrain awareness and warning systems (TAWS), and night visual flight rules (VFR) operations in hilly areas increased risk exposure. This context explains why pilot decisions, adherence to altitude constraints, and communications with air traffic control were central to the investigation findings.
Probable Cause and Safety Themes
The NTSB determined the probable cause to be the pilot’s continued instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) flight into mountainous terrain, leading to controlled flight into terrain. Contributing factors included darkness, mountainous terrain, and the absence of TAWS. The accident emphasized recurring themes in helicopter safety: the importance of pilot in command decision-making, use of available weather and terrain information, and adherence to instrument procedures when visibility and orientation are compromised. These lessons apply to commercial operators, tour providers, and private pilots alike.
Passenger Composition Takeaways
Understanding who was in Kobe Bryant's helicopter is best framed as a breakdown of roles rather than speculation. The occupants fell into three practical groups:
- Family-related passengers: Kobe Bryant and Gianna Bryant, part of a larger group tied to Gianna's basketball activities.
- John Altobelli party: John Altobelli, Kerwin Altobelli, Alyssa Altobelli, and Makenna Gott, traveling together as a social/peer group.
- Crew: One pilot responsible for the entire flight, operating under VFR at night in challenging terrain.
No additional crew members, such as flight attendants or extra pilots, were on board. This composition is consistent with a private repositioning flight, not a scheduled air carrier operation, which influences applicable regulations and safety oversight.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Aircraft Type | Sikorsky S-76B | NTSB registry & operator records |
| Flight Type | Private repositioning flight (Uber Copter Flight N72EX) | Operator manifest & NTSB report |
| Departure Airport | John Wayne Airport (SNA) | ATC logs & NTSB factual report |
| Destination Airport | Camarillo Airport (CMA) | Flight plan & NTSB report |
| Onboard Occupants | 9 (8 passengers, 1 pilot) | Coroner & NTSB reports |
| Date and Time | January 26, 2020, approximately 9:00p.m. local | ATC timestamps & NTSB timeline |
| Contributing Factors | Darkness, mountainous terrain, continuation into IMC | NTSB probable cause determination |
FAQ
Reader questions
Was anyone else aboard besides those listed?
No. Official NTSB, law enforcement, and coroner reports consistently list nine occupants: eight passengers and one pilot. There is no verified evidence of additional individuals on the helicopter.
Did weather cause the crash?
While darkness and mountainous terrain were factors, the NTSB cited the pilot's decision to continue into instrument meteorological conditions as the central cause. Weather alone does not explain the accident; pilot decision-making and risk management were pivotal.
Were any safety recommendations issued after the crash?
The NTSB issued numerous safety recommendations focusing on helicopter terrain awareness, pilot training expectations for night mountain flying, and improved dissemination of weather and terrain information to pilots not operating under instrument flight rules.