Tuesday (June 22) marked a day of relief for Vanessa Bryant. 

The wife of Kobe Bryant and other families who lost their loved ones in that fateful helicopter tragedy in 2020 have now settled the wrongful-death lawsuit involving Island Express Helicopters.

According to online publication, Insider, the terms of the settlement were not disclosed. However, the settlement is awaiting approval from the judge overseeing the case.

Scenes from a helicopter crash 

On Sunday (January 26, 2020), pilot Ara Zobayan was flying Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and six others to a youth basketball tournament to be held at the former Lakers star’s Mamba Sports Academy when their helicopter crashed in California’s San Fernando Valley.

Everyone aboard the helicopter died in the crash.

Months following the fatal crash, Vanessa Bryant sued the company, Island Express Helicopters, and its owner, alleging that the company didn’t properly train the aircraft’s pilot, Zobayan.

She also argued that the company should not have allowed the flight to go ahead in foggy weather. 

This led to her suing Zobayan’s estate, claiming that he had shown negligence by flying the helicopter in bad weather conditions, cognizant that he was taking a risk by doing so.

The lawsuit was reportedly joined by the family members of those who lost their lives that day.

They also agreed to the confidential settlement conditions.

However following Vanessa Bryant’s lawsuit, Island Express Helicopters has blamed the crash on the Federal Aviation Administration, whose air-traffic controllers permitted the pilot to fly. 

It filed a countersuit against the agency, which is not a party to the settlement agreement.

Insider later revealed that, in a separate lawsuit, Vanessa Bryant also sued the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and other Los Angeles government agencies after deputies took and shared photos of the crash and its victims. 

That lawsuit remains ongoing.