US basketball legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna were among nine people killed in a helicopter crash in the city of Calabasas, California.
Bryant, 41, and Gianna, 13, were travelling in a private helicopter when it came down and burst into flames.
The LA county sheriff said there were no survivors.
Bryant, a five-time NBA champion, played for the LA Lakers throughout his career and is considered one of the greatest players in the game's history.
What the NBA said:
The National Basketball Association issued a statement saying it was "devastated by the tragic passing of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna".
"For 20 seasons, Kobe showed us what is possible when remarkable talent blends with an absolute devotion to winning," it said.
What about the Kobe Helicopter Crash.?
Officials say they believe 9 people were on board -- 1 pilot and 8 passengers -- and there were no survivors. Still unclear why the chopper crashed but an investigation is under way.
But family members and colleagues said John Altobelli, coach of the Orange Coast College basketball team, along with his wife Keri and their 13-year-old daughter Alyssa - Christina Mauser, a basketball coach at Gianna's school, was also on board, her husband wrote on Facebook.
Gavin Masak, who lives nearby, told CBS News of the moment the helicopter crashed.
"It wasn't exactly like an explosion sound but it was like a loud boom. It sounded like a helicopter, but it sounded like a jet, like it was loud, so I went inside and told my dad what was happening. So when I came out I saw smoke on the hill but it wasn't like a big, black cloud of smoke, it was just grey," he said.
#Update Downed aircraft is a helicopter. Flames extinguished. #Malibu deputies at crash site looking for survivors, 4200 blk Las Virgenes Rd #Calabasas #LASD pic.twitter.com/eixLhGhLyE— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) January 26, 2020
Eyewitnesses also tell that they heard the helicopter's engine sputtering before it went down. As you can see, flames and smoke covered much of the scene from the wreck. The official cause of the crash is currently under investigation.
Who is Kobe Bryant & why he's so famous?
The Basketball Legend was Born on August 23, 1978, at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Bryant played his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He retired in April 2016.
Kobe is widely considered one of the greatest NBA players of all time -- His achievements include being making 18 All-Star teams during his 20-year career with the Lakers, winning 5 NBA championships, 2 NBA Finals MVPs and he was the league MVP in '08.
He was also an NBA scoring champion twice and a two-time Olympic champion.
He famously scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors in 2006, the second-highest single-game total in NBA history.
Kobe Bryant: Wife & Children.
KB is survived by his wife Vanessa. Together, they have four daughters -- Gianna, Natalia and Bianca and their newborn Capri. Kobe and Vanessa got married in 2001 after meeting in 1999.
World Leaders, Stars, sports celebrities pay tributes to Kobe: #RIPKobeBryant
#WERemember
Former President Barack Obama says,
"Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act."
"To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day."
NBA Legend Michael Jordan saying ...
"I am in shock over the tragic news of Kobe's and Gianna's passing. Words can't describe the pain I'm feeling. I loved Kobe -- he was like a little brother to me. We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much."
"He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force. Kobe was also an amazing dad who loved his family deeply -- and took great pride in his daughter's love for the game of basketball. Yvette joins me in sending my deepest condolences to Vanessa, the Lakers organization and basketball fans around the world."
More to follow!
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