Former NBA star Kobe Bryant is dead after his private helicopter crashed near Calabasas, California, killing everyone on board.
Bryant, 41, was traveling from Newport Beach, California, to the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles in his Sikorsky S-76 chopper when the aircraft caught fire, according to TMZ. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department warned people to avoid the area as authorities work to address the scene.
The former player’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna, was also aboard the helicopter and died in the crash. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva confirmed in a press conference Sunday afternoon that nine people were killed in the accident, including the pilot. He declined to confirm any names of the victims until the coroner notified their families.
The county’s Fire Chief Daryl Osby confirmed that the helicopter crash started a brush fire that covered a quarter acre. He explained that emergency responders were hoisted down to the crash site to search for survivors while firefighters on the ground worked to put out the brush fire surrounding the helicopter ruins.
*AIRCRAFT DOWN* Battalion 5 units working a multiple fatality helicopter crash in #Calabasas the #NTSB is currently in route to this incident. @LASDHQ is on scene and assisting. This is the #Willow incident. Battalion 5 is Willow IC pic.twitter.com/j9shN0NnWY
— L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) January 26, 2020
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
Calabasas Mayor Alicia Weintraub confirmed that no one on the ground was injured by the crash. She added, “It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Kobe Bryant and four others in a crash in Calabasas.” The helicopter made several loops before crashing in a less populated area.
“It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Kobe Bryant and four others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas,” Calabasas Mayor Alicia Weintraub said. “The aircraft went down in a remote field off Las Virgenes around 10:00 this morning. Nobody on the ground was hurt.”
— NBC Los Angeles (@NBCLA) January 26, 2020
Here is the chopper’s track. It made several loops over Los Angeles before heading toward a less populated area where it crashed. An hour earlier it had made a flight on a similar reverse path, from Long Beach to Orange Cty. https://t.co/FoB8Fvfwdg #KobeBryant #breaking #WCVB pic.twitter.com/GDhZnLVq7K
— David Hurlburt (@David5TV) January 26, 2020
#Kobe Bryant was known to fly in this Sikorsky S-76, which was in that same area at the time of the crash. The chopper had flown from Long Beach to Orange County this morning. It had taken off again from Orange County and flown over LA back toward Long Beach. #BREAKING pic.twitter.com/0LD7M5rOt4
— David Hurlburt (@David5TV) January 26, 2020
Bryant was one of the league’s greatest players. He made 18 All-Star Game appearances in his 20 years with the Los Angeles Lakers after being a first-round draft pick in 1996. During his time in the NBA, his teams won five championships, in two of which he was dubbed most valuable player. In 2008, he was chosen as the NBA’s most valuable player. The basketball star also won an Oscar for a short film he produced in 2018, called Dear Basketball.
Bryant leaves behind his wife, Vanessa, and three other daughters, including one who was born in June 2019.
In 2003, the basketball star was accused of sexual assault. The charges were eventually dropped, and the matter was settled in civil court.
He left the NBA in 2012 and became the only player in the league to have two jersey numbers retired in his honor, numbers 8 and 24. The basketball star turned to philanthropic work after his time in the NBA and was the official ambassador for After-School All-Stars, a program that provides after-hours services to students who need additional help.
In a statement about his death, the NBA player’s union wrote: “We are stunned and devastated by the news of the sudden passing of Kobe Bryant. Words cannot express his impact on our Players, the NBA, and the game of basketball. This is a monumental loss for the entire community and our hearts are quite simply broken. We send love and prayers out to his wife Vanessa and the entire family.”
NBPA Statement on the passing of Kobe Bryant pic.twitter.com/iWDBcV7c2N
— NBPA (@TheNBPA) January 26, 2020
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver also issued a statement in honor of Bryant, writing that the “NBA family is devastated” by the news.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on the death of Kobe Bryant:
“The NBA family is devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna.” pic.twitter.com/Uc6TkQhn8G
— NBC News (@NBCNews) January 26, 2020
This story is developing and will be updated with further information.
