NBA legend Kobe Bryant, daughter killed in helicopter crash

The helicopter on which the 41-year-old retired basketball player, his daughter and seven others were has been described as a Sikorsky S-76.

ACCIDENT

NBA legend Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter died Sunday in a helicopter crash in suburban Los Angeles, US media reports said, in an accident confirmed by police that left nine people dead.

Initial reports had indicated that there were five people onboard, but later, it emerged that there were nine passengers on the helicopter.


Los Angeles County Sheriff's officials said there were no survivors from the morning crash in foggy conditions on a hillside in Calabasas, west of Los Angeles.

The helicopter was described as a Sikorsky S-76, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer said.

TMZ was the first US outlet to report that Bryant was among the fatalities. The NBA icon's death was later confirmed by ESPN, CNN and the Los Angeles Times citing unidentified sources.

TMZ reported that Bryant's wife, Vanessa was not among those on board the helicopter.

Early reports of Bryant's death sent shockwaves throughout the world, with fellow stars and celebrities expressing disbelief at the news.

"This can't be true," Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic wrote on Twitter. "No please."

alt=''

 Kobe Bryant's last tweet:



7 2009 obe ryant of the os ngeles akers celebrates after winning game two of the finals against the rlando agic at the taples enter in os ngeles JUNE 7, 2009: Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers celebrates after winning game two of the NBA finals against the Orlando Magic at the Staples Center in Los Angeles

 

pril 13 2016 obe ryant of the os ngeles akers looks to pass under pressure from helvin ack of the tah azz during obes final game as a aker in their seasonending western division matchup aginst the tah azz in os ngeles alifornia APRIL 13, 2016: Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers looks to pass under pressure from Shelvin Mack of the Utah Jazz during Kobe's final game as a Laker in their season-ending NBA western division matchup aginst the Utah Jazz in Los Angeles, California

 

eptember 13 2019 ormer basketball player obe ryant waves at the crowd during the asketball orld up semifinal game between ustralia and pain in eijing SEPTEMBER 13, 2019: Former basketball player Kobe Bryant waves at the crowd during the Basketball World Cup semi-final game between Australia and Spain in Beijing

 

The crash came only hours after the 41-year-old former Los Angeles Lakers icon was passed by current Lakers star LeBron James for third on the all-time NBA scoring list in a Saturday game at Philadelphia.

Bryant's final post on social media had been a tweet congratulating James on surpassing him.

"Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames," Bryant wrote. "Much respect my brother #33644".

Bryant was a five-time NBA champion in a career that began in 1996 straight out of a high school and lasted until his retirement in 2016.

He also was a two-time Olympic gold medalist, helping spark the US squad of NBA stars to titles in 2008 at Beijing and 2012 at London.

13 2016 ryant gestures to fans as he takes the court for his last game for the os ngeles akers against tah azzAPRIL 13, 2016: Bryant gestures to fans as he takes the court for his last game for the Los Angeles Lakers against Utah Jazz

 

3 2016 ormer os ngeles aker obe ryant gestures while responding to questions from sportscaster im ray during the nd of an ra onversation with reat obe ryant discussion at the 2016 ilken nstitute lobal onference in everly ills alifornia MAY 3, 2016: Former Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant gestures while responding to questions from sportscaster Jim Gray during the "End of an Era: A Conversation with NBA Great Kobe Bryant" discussion at the 2016 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California

 

21 2017 ryant attends a promotional event organized by the sports brand ike for the inauguration of the infrastructure improvements of a local basketball playground at the eanaures sports hall e uartier in aris rance OCTOBER 21, 2017: Bryant attends a promotional event organized by the sports brand Nike, for the inauguration of the infrastructure improvements of a local basketball playground at the Jean-Jaures sports hall "Le Quartier", in Paris, France

 

Neymar dedicates PSG goal to Kobe Bryant

Neymar dedicated his second goal at Lille to Kobe Bryant, whose death on Sunday in a helicopter crash shocked the world.

The Brazilian slotted home the 52nd-minute penalty that put PSG two goals up in the French Ligue 1 clash and went over to the television cameras by the side of the Stade Pierre Mauro pitch to make the number 24 with his fingers in honour of Bryant's shirt number.

Bryant had been nominated for the NBA Hall of Fame in December.




NBA all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar paid tribute to Kobe Byrant:



ALSO RELATED TO THIS STORY

How Twitter reacted to Kobe Bryant's death