According to multiple media reports Kobe Bryant, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, has died in a helicopter crash. He was 41.
A Sikorsky S-76B helicopter impacted hilly terrain in Calabasas, Los Angeles County, California, USA. All five on board have reportedly died. The helicopter followed US Route 101 before turning left towards the hills near Calabasas, where it came down.
The LA County Sheriff’s department said five people died in the helicopter crash on Sunday, with no survivors.
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
“We received a call just before 10 am this morning of an aircraft down in the Malibu area, right off of Las Vergenes, essentially Calabasas,” said Tony Imbrenda of the Los Angeles County fire department, told reporters at the scene. “Some folks were out here mountain biking this morning, they saw an aircraft in distress, they went down into the hillside. This was a helicopter, it’s been confirmed it was an S-76 Sikorsky helicopter and unfortunately there were no survivors.”
Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fatal crash.
https://twitter.com/i/status/1221522239016919040
Kobe Bryant played his entire, 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA. He won five championships with the team and was often compared to the legendary Michael Jordan. He was voted the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and went on to win two gold medals with the USA Men’s Basketball team in 2008 and 2012.
In 2018, Bryant won an Academy Award for his short film, “Dear Basketball,” based on a poem he wrote before his 2016 retirement.
He is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and four daughters – Gianna, Natalia and Bianca and Capri.
Background facts:
- The Sikorsky S-76 is a helicopter that first flew in 1978 and entered service in 1979.
- ASN has 43 fatal accidents on file
- N72EX was manufactured in 1991. It was the 374th S-76 built.
- Flew for the State of Illinois as N761LL in VIP config until it was sold in 2015, becoming N72EX.
