Page 38 - Florida Sentinel 2-12-21

National
Child Tax Credit Questions,
Kobe Bryant Helicopter Crash Caused By Pilot Error
The harrowing helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and eight others was caused by pilot error likely linked to “self- induced pressure” to please a celebrity client, officials said Tuesday.
The top brass of the National Transportation Safety Board dissected every known detail of the deadly Jan. 26, 2020 crash during a marathon meeting Tuesday before formally adopt- ing the probable cause.
“The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this acci- dent was the pilot’s decision to continue flight under visual flight rules into instrument me- teorological conditions which re- sulted in the pilot’s spatial disorientation and loss of con- trol,” the NTSB decided.
The federal body also faulted Island Express Helicopters for its “inadequate review and over- sight of its safety management processes.”
The meeting, streamed live,
KOBE BRYANT
hammered home the point that pilot Ara Zobayan didn’t fol- low his training when he inten- tionally flew into blinding clouds at high speed, allowing himself to become susceptible to spatial disorientation including “the leans” and “somatogravic illu- sion.”
Dr. Dujuan Sevillian, the NTSB’s expert in human per- formance, said Zobayan likely put pressure on himself to finish the flight because he didn’t want
to disappoint his VIP client. “The relationship between the pilot and client (Bryant) had turned into a friendship over the years. The client al- lowed the pilot to fly his children without him being present. That type of relationship was very
close,” Dr. Sevillian said.
“In this case, the pilot, as he was flying, this type of relation- ship that he had with the client can lead to self-induced pressure
during the flight,” he said. “There was no evidence that Island Express, the air charter broker, or the client (Bryant) placed pressure on the pilot to accept the charter flight re- quest,” lead investigator Bill
English said.
English said there was no
excuse for Zobayan not turning back to Van Nuys Airport when he could see he was getting boxed in by thick clouds over the hilly pass in Calabasas, Calif., where he attempted to make his approach into Camarillo Air- port.
Answers: Democrats
Propose Economic Relief
Congressional Democrats moved forward with the plan as a part of President Joe Biden‘s COVID-19 relief proposed pack- age. The Washington Post re- ported that the proposed legislation would provide $3,600 per child under the age of six and $3,000 for children ages six through 17. The payments would be allocated over the course of 12 months beginning in July.
If approved, the assistance would play an outsized role in Black and brown households, which have been disproportion- ately affected by the coronavirus and subsequent economic fallout from the pandemic.
The proposed American Family Act has the potential of reducing child poverty. Included as a part of President Biden’s recovery plan announced last month, ex- perts from Columbia University found that expanding the tax credit along with other proposed measures would reduce child poverty by more than 51%.
Like the stimulus payments,
JOE BIDEN
the IRS would issue monthly checks based on the child’s age and the filer’s income. This would provide families with immediate relief instead of having to wait to file taxes. Single parents earning up to $75,000 and couples earn- ing up to $150,000 would be eligi- ble for the full amount. Child tax payments would be available to families for a year.
Over $300K Raised For Girl
Injured In Accident
Involving Chiefs Coach
According to CNN, the pileup occurred on Thursday when Reid’s Dodge Ram struck a Chevrolet Traverse stopped alongside Interstate 435, not far from Arrowhead Stadium. Ariel’s mother, the driver of the Traverse, stopped to assist a family member who called for assistance after running out of gas, the New York Daily News reports. Ariel and a four-year- old child were rushed to the hos- pital, but Ariel’s injuries placed her in critical care.
When questioned by authori- ties Reid confessed he was under the influence of two to three drinks and the prescrip- tion drug Adderall. He was taken to the hospital after stat- ing he was experiencing stom- ach pain.
Reid was not apprehended or charged with any crimes.
Police are investigating the matter after identifying Reid’s “multiple DUI contacts.” Law enforcement collected Reid’s blood after a judge authorized permission to do so to assist with their investigation.
ARIEL
On Thursday, the Kansas City Chiefs released a statement re- garding the accident. “The or- ganization has been made aware of a multi-vehicle accident in- volving Outside Linebackers Coach, Britt Reid. We are in the process of gathering infor- mation, and we will have no fur- ther comment at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved.”
On social media commenta- tors shared messages of support for Ariel and her family, while also pointing out the glaring dif- ferences regarding how law en- forcement interacts with white, affluent members of society.
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