Basketball legend Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash
LOS ANGELES: Nine people including basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, died in a helicopter crash in suburban Los Angeles late Sunday night.
According to the celebrity website TMZ, the accident confirmed by police that saw nine people, including Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna, were killed.
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials said there were no survivors from the helicopter crash on a hillside in Calabasas, west of Los Angeles.
First responders put out the flames of the crash site, the sheriff’s department said, posting a picture of a fire truck and smoke emerging from the brush in a ravine.
Five people confirmed deceased, no survivors in #Calabasas helicopter crash. #LASD #Malibu deputies remain with #LA County Fire personnel. Investigation ongoing.
Avoid the area until further notice.
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) January 26, 2020
The helicopter was described as a Sikorsky S-76, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesperson Allen Kenitzer said. The NBA icon’s death was later confirmed by ESPN and Variety citing unidentified sources.
The crash came only hours after the 41-year-old former Los Angeles Lakers star was passed by current Lakers star LeBron James for third on the all-time NBA scoring list in a Saturday game at Philadelphia.
#UPDATE: TMZ has confirmed that Kobe's daughter Gianna Maria Onore — aka GiGi — was also on board the helicopter and died in the crash .
Previous source was incorrect about family not being on board.
More: https://t.co/O1lzOu4YWI
— Alexis Wainwright (@AWainwrightTV) January 26, 2020
His last tweet honored James as well. “Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother,” Bryant had said.
Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother 💪🏾 #33644
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 26, 2020
Bryant was a five-time NBA champion in a career that started in 1996 and continued until 2016.
He also was a two-time Olympic gold medalist, helping spark the US squad of NBA stars to titles in 2008 in Beijing and 2012 at London.
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