What We Know So Far
Kobe Bryant and one of his daughters, 13-year-old Gianna Maria Onore Bryant, were among 9 people killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas California on Sunday morning.
The father and daughter were on their way to a sports academy for a basketball game at which Gianna was supposed to play and Kobe was supposed to coach when their helicopter crashed 50 kilometers northwest of downtown Los Angeles. The other victims of the crash have not yet been identified.
There is no immediate information as to whether or not the helicopter radioed a distress signal before crashing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash. The FBI said it is assisting the NTSB in the investigation.
By all accounts, visibility was very low at the time of the incident with weather conditions being extremely foggy and cloudy. According to meteorologist Michael Guy, the humidity was at 100% meaning the air would have been “like soup”.
The Los Angeles Police Department grounded its helicopters that morning, saying the conditions did not meet the minimum standards for flying.
Kobe Bryant played his entire NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers. At the time of his signing, he was the youngest player in NBA history. He won five NBA championships and two Olympic gold medals for men’s basketball.
Bryant retired from the NBA in April 2016 after scoring 60 points in his final game. He said his “body knew it was time to say goodbye.”
He leaves behind his wife Vanessa and three daughters. He will be missed dearly, and forever be remembered for his phenomenal contributions to the sport of basketball, as well as for his contributions to pop culture. The world has lost an icon.
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