Former NBA star Kobe Bryant died Sunday after his private helicopter crashed over Calabasas, Calif.
Bryant was one of nine people on the helicopter when it crashed, CBS News reported. Emergency responders did not find any survivors from the wreckage.
#BreakingNews
This is not a joke-Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas
Our ABC7 Desk has confirmed
#abc7eyewitness— Curt Sandoval (@abc7curt) January 26, 2020
Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna was also reportedly killed in the crash.
Sources: Kobe Bryant was on his way to a travel basketball game with his daughter Gianna when the helicopter crashed. Those aboard the helicopter also included another player and parent.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 26, 2020
Also killed in the crash were two of Giana Bryant’s classmates, Alyssa Altobelli and Payton Chester, who were described as talented young athletes. Altobelli’s parents, John and Keri Altobelli were also killed, along with Chester’s mother, Sarah Chester. Pilot Ara Zobyan and high school basketball coach Christina Mauser were also killed.
In addition to Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, @CBSNews has identified the other victims of the deadly helicopter crash in California:
John Altobelli
Keri Altobelli
Alyssa Altobelli
Sarah Chester
Payton Chester
Ara Zobayan
Christina Mauserhttps://t.co/o42tVC5NRn pic.twitter.com/EKadKjcNPu— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) January 27, 2020
All of the passengers were en route to a basketball game.
Bryant was 41 and had been known to commute by helicopter for years. He often flew in his Sikorsky S-76, which was identified in the crash.
KUSI-TV News initially reported a helicopter crashed into a Calabasas hillside around 9:47 a.m. local time. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) spokesman Allen Kenitzer described the helicopter in question as a Sikorsky S-76.
Local sheriff’s officials reported no survivors and that the crash had caused a small brush fire but that it was quickly put out.
The helicopter crashed into a hillside amid dense foggy conditions, which is suspected to be a primary cause of the crash. Other aircraft had been grounded in the area, including helicopters belonging to local law enforcement agencies.
Bryant had been a veteran of the Los Angeles Lakers NBA team and over a 20-year career had won five NBA championships. He also made 18 All-Star teams, won two NBA Finals MVP awards and the league MVP award in 2008.
Beyond basketball Bryant also won an Oscar in 2018 for his short film “Dear Basketball.”
Just the day before the crash, Bryant tweeted congratulations to fellow Laker LeBron James, who surpassed Bryant’s career record of 33,643 points, to become the third all time highest scoring NBA player.
Continuing to move the game forward @KingJames. Much respect my brother 💪🏾 #33644
— Kobe Bryant (@kobebryant) January 26, 2020
The tweet was Bryant’s last before the helicopter crash Sunday.
This article has been updated to include the most up-to-date information on the victims and their identities.
