Bryant’s helicopter low in fog, records show

LOS ANGELES: The pilot of Kobe Bryant’s illfated helicopter was flying too low to be monitored in fog, air traffic controller recordings show, as coroner’s investigators said they had recovered three bodies from the crash site and were searching for more remains.

The Sikorsky S76 chopper slammed into a steep hillside outside the town of Calabasas, California, on Monday, killing all nine people on board, igniting a brush fire and spreading debris over 1000sq m of grassy terrain.

The dense fog, and its role in the crash, came under scrutiny yesterday as fans, friends and family of the NBA superstar confronted the reality that the charismatic 41yearold and his 13yearold daughter, Gianna, were among those on board who died.

The Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office said three bodies had been recovered from the debris field and taken to a forensic science centre for identification.

‘‘Today, the search continues in the Calabasas mountainside for the other occupants in the fatal helicopter crash,’’ the coroner’s office said.

Bryant, who won five NBA championships in his 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers, was known to travel frequently by helicopter to avoid the Los Angeles area’s glacial traffic.

In addition to the Bryants, the crash devastated three other families linked to the Mamba Sports Academy on their way to a girls’ basketball tournament: a husband and wife with their 13yearold daughter; a mother and her 13yearold daughter; and a basketball coach who was also a mother. The ninth victim was the pilot, Ara Zobayan, an experienced former flight instructor who was instrumentrated, or qualified to fly in fog, according to US media accounts.

Air traffic controllers gave the pilot ‘‘Special Visual Flight Rules’’ or clearance to fly in less than optimal weather around the Burbank airport.

The pilot requested ‘‘flight following’’, or constant tracking from controllers, but was informed he was flying too low to be picked up by radar. It is unclear if the pilot heard the comment as it comes near the end of the flight. — AAP