The dangers of private helicopters and planes

Even if you have the means, think twice before flying private

The death of Kobe Bryant and eight other people in a helicopter crash on Sunday has been impossible to process. I've spent the last few days grappling with the incomprehensibility of the accident and the horror of its circumstances: Bryant was en route to a girl's basketball tournament with his 13-year-old daughter, two of her teenage teammates, and their parents and coaches when the Sikorsky S-76B helicopter dropped suddenly and hit a steep hillside in the Santa Monica Mountains, killing everyone on board.

The tragedy has left in its wake more questions than answers: Why did the experienced pilot press on, even after the LAPD had grounded its flights due to fog one witness described as being "as thick as ... a pool of milk"? Why did the helicopter drop abruptly right before its crash — had there been a mechanical failure, or was it attempting an emergency landing? Are personal aircrafts even a safe mode of transportation?

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Jeva Lange

Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.