CA - Kobe Bryant, 41, daughter GiGi, 13, & 7 others die in helicopter crash, Calabasas, 26 Jan 2020

[Gardenista]

Moment of silence and respect for Kobe Bryant before the Rockets vs. Nuggets game. RIP

Hoop Central on Twitter

 

[weepingangel]

12:35 PM PT -- Kobe's daughter Gianna Maria -- aka GiGi -- was also on board the helicopter and died in the crash ... reps for Kobe tell TMZ Sports. She was 13.

We're told they were on their way to the Mamba Academy for a basketball practice when the crash occurred. The Academy is in nearby Thousand Oaks
Kobe Bryant Dead, Daughter Also Dies in Helicopter Crash

 

[weepingangel]

dbm

 

[zecats]

12:35 PM PT -- Kobe's daughter Gianna Maria -- aka GiGi -- was also on board the helicopter and died in the crash ... reps for Kobe tell TMZ Sports. She was 13.

We're told they were on their way to the Mamba Academy for a basketball practice when the crash occurred. The Academy is in nearby Thousand Oaks
Kobe Bryant Dead, Daughter Also Dies in Helicopter Crash

From your link:

Kobe has famously used a helicopter to travel for years -- dating back to when he played for the Lakers. He was known for commuting from Newport Beach, CA to the STAPLES Center in DTLA in his Sikorsky S-76 chopper.

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.

A memorial to Kobe has already sprung up outside of Staples Center, where Kobe played for years.

Kobe has recently been spotted out at NBA games with his daughter Gianna -- a rising star basketball player herself. Their youngest daughter, Capri, was just born in June 2019.

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Photo gallery: Kobe and Gianna
Kobe Bryant Dead, Daughter Also Dies in Helicopter Crash

eta: This hurts my heart. You can see in the gallery how proud Gianna is to be with her dad. Only 13 years old. One of my granddaughters turns 13 next month. Their family will forever grieve.

 

[LadyL]

omg omg I hope it's rumour about his daughters

 

[whitelilac]

I'm just learning this....shocking. I admired Kobe, not just for his talent but for his decency.
Wow.....and also one of his daughters?
My condolences to his wife Vanessa, and his other children. Terrible tragedy.
I can see the the Malibu hills from here....it's very foggy.

 

[sraybella]

12:35 PM PT -- Kobe's daughter Gianna Maria -- aka GiGi -- was also on board the helicopter and died in the crash ... reps for Kobe tell TMZ Sports. She was 13.

We're told they were on their way to the Mamba Academy for a basketball practice when the crash occurred. The Academy is in nearby Thousand Oaks
Kobe Bryant Dead, Daughter Also Dies in Helicopter Crash

Oh no! Speechless

 

[Cubby]

Shocking. It took a minute for me to realize it was for real. So sad for his wife and family.

 

[whitelilac]

video of location here:
No Survivors in Fiery Helicopter Crash on Hillside in Calabasas Area: Officials

 

[MassGuy]

omg omg I hope it's rumour about his daughters

I think that’s going to be false. Unfortunately, he was traveling with one daughter. At this point though, Kobe’s reps would have informed TMZ if there were more daughters on board.

 

[Jsizzle]

I think that’s going to be a rumor. Unfortunately, he was traveling with one daughter. At this point though, Kobe’s reps would have informed TMZ if there were more daughters on board.

Idk why anyone would announce something so awful without it being confirmed. But yes. It appears Gianna was with him . I can’t imagine.

 

[MassGuy]

There will be a press conference in about an hour, according to CBS News.

 

[PinkPrincessPoop]

RIP KOBE BRYANT!!! My heart especially goes out to his wife today. The pain she must be feeling from losing her both her husband and her daughter at such young ages on the same day is something most of us cannot fathom. So sad.

 

[whitelilac]

A witness heard "sputtering" before the crash.
Seems as though it's a mechanical failure?

 

[MassGuy]

A witness heard "sputtering" before the crash.
Seems as though it's a mechanical failure?

Yeah, I don’t buy the fog reasoning.

I definitely think it’s going to be mechanical failure. You don’t really stand much of a chance when something like that happens.

 

[AnnaGrace]

So very sad. My thoughts are with his wife and remaining daughters. He was indeed a great guy and will always be remembered. Bless him and his daughter. Rest in peace.

 

[Jsizzle]

ESPN said it was the pilot, Kobe, Gianna, another player and parent on board. JMO

 

[imstilla.grandma]

Bryant, 41, was known to use a helicopter for travel dating to his days as a star player for the Los Angeles Lakers, when he commuted to games in a Sikorsky S-76 chopper, the celebrity news website TMZ said.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration identified the crashed helicopter as a Sikorsky S-76, saying in a statement that the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board would investigate.
UPDATE 5-Ex-basketball star Kobe Bryant, four others dead in helicopter crash

 

[Jsizzle]

Yeah, I don’t buy the fog reasoning.

I definitely think it’s going to be mechanical failure. You don’t really stand much of a chance when something like that happens.

I’ve been on a helicopter before. It was so scary. Private planes and helos go down allll the time. RIP to everyone on board.