Kobe Bryant killed in helicopter crash

Turned the morning TV news on to find this horrible devastating news that Kobe and his young daughter, Gigi have passed away in a helicopter crash along with 7 other passengers.

Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant was among nine people killed when the helicopter he was travelling in crashed in foggy conditions Sunday morning around 9.47 (LA Time) and then caught fire on a hillside in the Calabasas area outside Los Angeles. Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, and a teammate on her basketball team also were on board the helicopter when it went down northwest of LA, a city official said. Initial reports from the sheriff's department indicated five people were on the aircraft. The sheriff's department later confirmed that nine people were aboard, citing the helicopter's manifest.  A team of National Transportation Safety Board investigators was on its way to Southern California. The investigation will cover maintenance records, owner-operator information, conditions near the crash site and other factors that might have been involved in the crash.  The sheriff's department, out of respect for family members, did not identify the victims. Tearful and stunned fans gathered at the crash site, his training centre in Newbury Park and Staples Centre, where Bryant wowed crowds for 20 seasons, to mourn the five-time NBA champion and the Lakers' all-time leading scorer.  "Los Angeles will never be the same," a fan told reporters. "Los Angeles will never forget this day. "Former teammates and other Laker greats shared their grief as they heard of Bryant's death. The crash, near Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street, was called in at 9:47 a.m. Authorities said the helicopter was on fire and sparked a quarter acre brush fire. Flames were put out by 10:30 a.m. The helicopter that crashed was a Sikorksy S-76B, according to authorities. It departed at about 9 a.m. from Santa Ana-John Wayne International Airport, CA (SNA/KSNA) Orange County. Bryant's Mamba Training Facility is located about 18 miles west of the crash site. It was not immediately clear whether he was traveling to the Newbury Park location. Witness Colin Storm was in his living room in Calabasas when he heard "what sounded like a low-flying airplane or helicopter." "It was very foggy so we couldn't see anything," he said. "But then we heard some sputtering, and then a boom." A short time later the fog cleared a bit and Storm could see smoke rising from the hillside in front of his home. Bryant lived south of Los Angeles in Orange County for much of his adult life, and he often used helicopters to save time and avoid Southern California's notorious traffic. Even as a player, he often travelled to practices and games by helicopter, and he kept up the practice after retirement as he attended to his business ventures. The Lakers team plane arrived back in Los Angeles from Philadelphia hours later. Players could be seen embracing, some appearing to wipe tears from their eyes.

Bryant, 41, retired in 2016 from the NBA after 20 seasons with the Lakers. He finished his legendary career third on the NBA's all-time scoring list.  "Kobe Bryant was a giant who inspired, amazed, and thrilled people everywhere with his incomparable skill on the court - and awed us with his intellect and humility as a father, husband, creative genius, and ambassador for the game he loved," Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. Bryant was born in Philadelphia. He was drafted out of high school by the Charlotte Hornets as the 13th overall pick in 1996. He was then traded to the Lakers and was voted an All-Star game starter at 19 in 1998. He played his entire 20-year career with the Lakers, winning the league’s Most Valuable Player award in 2008, making the all-star team 18 times and winning five NBA Championships.  He won three titles in a row alongside centre Shaquille O'Neal.
Aircraft Information
Airline: Island Express Holding Corp
Aircraft: Sikorsky S-76B
Registration: N72XE
Serial Number: 760379
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. 

THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY  AND FRIENDS.