Bryant crash created a 'devastating accident scene' say officials
Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department confirm nine passengers are believed to have been killed in the crash
The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday
Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US
Kobe Bryant’s helicopter did not have a black box, and nor was it required to have one, crash officials have revealed, as they start to retrieve bodies from the wreckage.
As more than 20 members of the national transportation board (NTSB scoured the California hillside where the chopper came down on Sunday morning in bad weather, officials asked for the public to help to provide photographs of the conditions.
NTSB spokesperson Jennifer Homendy said the pilot of the chopper told air traffic controllers in his last radio message that he was climbing to avoid a cloud layer.
The phe pilot had asked for and received special clearance to fly in heavy fog just minutes before the crash and was flying at 1400 feet (427 meters) when he went south and then west, she said.
The pilot then asked for air traffic controllers to provide “flight following” aide but was told the craft was too low, she said.
Ms Homendy said the debris field covered “about 500 to 600 feet”.
Asked if anyone could have survived, she said: “It was a pretty devastating accident scene.”
Reports have emerged of extremely foggy conditions that grounded planes and plagued the California region where Bryant died in a tragic helicopter crash.
The former Los Angeles Lakers star was on the private helicopter with his 13-year-old daughter, a beloved baseball coach and multiple families when it crashed in Calabasas, California on Sunday afternoon, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. Tributes have since poured in across the globe as fans remembered the iconic 41-year-old, whose decades-long career propelled him to international stardom and ultimately transcended basketball.
Bryant spent the entirety of his 20-year NBA career with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning five championships, before retiring in 2016. He also won two Olympic gold medals with the US national team in 2008 and 2012. Follow live updates below:
Please allow a moment for the live blog to load.
Tributes
Tributes have poured in for Kobe Bryant after the former basketball star has died in a helicopter crash at the age of 41.
The likes of US president Donald Trump, Usain Bolt, Tom Brady, Whoopi Goldberg, Lennox Lewis, Andy Murray and Justin Bieber were among those to pay their respects to the five-time NBA champion on social media.
Bryant, regarded as one of the best players of all time, represented the Los Angeles Lakers for all of his 20-year career and also won two Olympic gold medals before retiring in 2016.
President Trump wrote on Twitter: “Reports are that basketball great Kobe Bryant and three others have been killed in a helicopter crash in California. That is terrible news!”
Joel Embiid, a three-time NBA All-Star playing for Bryant’s hometown team the Philadelphia 76ers, said he took up basketball after watching “legend” Bryant in action and wanted to emulate him.
The Cameroon-born centre wrote: “Man I don’t even know where to start. I started playing ball because of KOBE after watching the 2010 finals. I had never watched ball before that and that finals was the turning point of my life. I WANTED TO BE LIKE KOBE. I’m so FREAKING SAD right now!!!! RIP LEGEND”
Former record-breaking Olympic sprint champion Usain Bolt tweeted: “Still can’t believe” along with a photo of him with Bryant.
Tom Brady, the six-time Super Bowl winner, wrote: “We miss you already Kobe”
Shooting guard Dwyane Wade, who won three NBA titles with the Miami Heat and was a team-mate of Bryant’s with the United States, wrote: “Nooooooooooo God please No!”
Team USA wrote: “We are deeply saddened by the loss of two-time Olympic champion Kobe Bryant. Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones.”
TV presenter Whoopi Goldberg wrote: “RIP Kobe, hero to many including my grandson, extraordinary athlete and always kind to me & my family. My deepest condolences to his family.”
Former world heavyweight boxing champion Lennox Lewis put a picture of Bryant on his Twitter account simply accompanied by the word “Heartbroken”.
Fellow boxer Tony Bellew, meanwhile, wrote: “Truly heartbreaking news about the great Kobe Bryant! An iconic figure who will go down with the greatest of his generation.”
Three-time grand slam tennis champion Andy Murray also paid tribute to Bryant, saying on an Instagram story “This has hit me hard”, while adding “Thinking of all his family, friends and colleagues.”
Scores of footballers tweeted their shock and sadness, including United States striker Alex Morgan, Manchester City duo Sergio Aguero and Raheem Sterling, Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford and Inter Milan forward Romelu Lukaku.
Morgan, a two-time World Cup winner and gold medallist at the 2012 London Olympics, wrote: “My heart is heavy with the news of Kobe Bryant. Prayers go out to his family right now through this unthinkable time.”
Series A giants AC Milan tweeted: “We have no words to express how shocked we are to hear of the tragic passing of one of the greatest sportsmen of all time and Rossonero fan, Kobe Bryant. All our thoughts are with the families of those affected by this tragic accident. You will forever be missed, Kobe.”
Biles, winner of 23 Olympic and World Championship gold medals, wrote “rest in peace Kobe” alongside a picture of Bryant with the USA women’s gymnastics team.
Singer Bieber also put an old picture of him alongside Bryant on Instagram, saying: “It can’t be. You always encouraged me mamba. Gave me me some of the best quotes that we smile about to this day.! Love you man!”
PA
Bryant not only won five NBA finals, earning MVP twice, but also won two Olympics gold medals during his sensational career.
ESPN report that his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, who is a talented basketball player herself, was on her way to a training session with a friend and another parent in the helicopter which crashed.
The legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, the highest points scorer in NBA history, has posted a message of tribute social media.
Another LA Lakers legend, Shaquille O'Neal, pays tribute.
World No 1 golfer Brooks Koepka has also paid tribute to his "hero growing up" and "inspiration to this day".
Breaking
Los Angeles County fire chief, Dary Osby, has now confirmed that nine people were believed to be on board the helicopter, which tragically crashed in Calabasas, California on Sunday.
A member of the Los Angeles County sheriff's department is currently holding a press conference, confirming that nine people were believed to be on board the helicopter when it crashed. He has not confirmed the identities of any of those who have died.
“As the chief indicated there were no survivors," he said. "We have a manifest to indicate there were nine people on board of the aircraft. The pilot plus eight individuals. There is wide speculation who the identities are, however it is entirely inappropriate right now to identify anyone by name until the coroner has made the identification through their process and made notifications to the next of kin.
“It would be extremely disrespectful to understand that your loved one who has perished and you learn about it from TMZ. That is just wholly inappropriate. So we’re not going to be going there. We’re going to wait until the coroner does her job and we’re assisting the families of those who believe they have been impacted and it’s a tough process.”
The Los Angeles County fire chief, Daryl Osby, has also been speaking about the events after they were informed of the crash.
“Our firefighters on the scene indicate that there was a debris field and steep terrain with a quarter acre brush fire that was occurring at the time," he said. "Our firefighters hiked into the site with medical equipment and hose lines to extinguish the fire as it included the brush fire debris from the helicopter and the fire also included magnesium which is very hard for firefighters to extinguish because magnesium reacts with oxygen and water.
“In addition to our firefighters hiking into the incident, we had one helicopter flying to the incident with firefighting paramedics on board. Those paramedics were hoisted down to the incident early into the incident.
“They did a search of the area for survivors. Unfortunately all the survivors were determined to have perished. Firefighters and hand crews worked to extinguish the fire while carefully preserving the incident for investigation. Currently, the investigation is still ongoing.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies