Former NBA star Kobe Bryant is dead after his private helicopter crashed near Calabasas, California, killing everyone on board.

Bryant, 41, was traveling from Newport Beach, California, to the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles in his Sikorsky S-76 chopper when the aircraft caught fire, according to TMZ. The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department warned people to avoid the area as authorities work to address the scene.

The former player’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna, was also aboard the helicopter and died in the crash. Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva confirmed in a press conference Sunday afternoon that nine people were killed in the accident, including the pilot. He declined to confirm any names of the victims until the coroner notified their families.

The county’s Fire Chief Daryl Osby confirmed that the helicopter crash started a brush fire that covered a quarter acre. He explained that emergency responders were hoisted down to the crash site to search for survivors while firefighters on the ground worked to put out the brush fire surrounding the helicopter ruins.

*AIRCRAFT DOWN* Battalion 5 units working a multiple fatality helicopter crash in #Calabasas the #NTSB is currently in route to this incident. @LASDHQ is on scene and assisting. This is the #Willow incident. Battalion 5 is Willow IC pic.twitter.com/j9shN0NnWY

— L.A. County Fire Department (@LACoFDPIO) January 26, 2020

(Read more from “NBA Legend Kobe Bryant and 13-Year-Old Daughter Killed in Helicopter Crash” HERE)

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