Kobe Bryant Dead: Everything We Know About NBA Icon’s Fatal Helicopter Crash

Sunday morning, the world was shocked by the news that Kobe Bryant had died in a helicopter crash near Calabasas. He was one of nine individuals that lost their lives shortly before 10 a.m. The cause of the accident was unknown early on Sunday, but emergency services were on hand to conduct an investigation into the tragic incident.

Following the crash, there were millions with questions about what had transpired. What caused the issue? Where was Bryant heading on Sunday morning? Did the fog become a major issue for the pilot? The questions went on as those on social media were caught up in this tragic moment.

A press conference held on Sunday afternoon provided some updated information, such as the official count. There were nine people on board, which included a pilot and eight passengers. The names of these individuals were not released in the hours following the crash after comments about families should not hear about a loved one’s death from TMZ. The identities were ultimately revealed on Monday morning.

As the hours came and went, more details became available about this tragic crash. The victims were named, eyewitness accounts provided extra information about the incident, and sources close to the situation revealed the likely cause.

​

The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department did not want to reveal the identities of the victims after this tragic crash. Alex Villanueva did not want the immediate family members to learn that their loved ones had passed away via TMZ. This was extremely critical considering the rampant misinformation prevalent on Twitter that guessed about various figures involved.

Some details were known, such as Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, both being on the helicopter during the tragic crash. However, the rest of the identities were not revealed until much later. CBS did ultimately list all nine victims on Monday morning.

​

There were constant questions on Sunday about the cause of the fatal helicopter crash. The authorities were conducting an investigation with hopes of determining the root cause, but no further details had been provided into the early evening.

The situation changed, however, when TMZ updated their report with additional details. The fog was believed to have been one reason for the tragic incident. The pilot reportedly became disoriented after taking off, which led to the crash.

​

TMZ was the first site to report this tragic news about Bryant, and they were met with some doubting the authenticity. Was the former Lakers star truly among those that perished on Sunday morning?

While there were several reports swirling about the individuals involved, ESPN did confirm the news. A source close to the situation told Adrian Wojnarowski that Bryant was one of those that had passed away.

​

The cause of the crash was unknown shortly after the news broke, but there was an investigation ongoing. The emergency services responded to the crash site and immediately set about looking for survivors and putting out a small brush fire that had been started.

The fire prevented emergency services from reaching the crashed aircraft until it could be contained by the fire department and those on hand.

 

​

While questions swirled about the cause of the helicopter crash, the Los Angeles Times did provide some clarity. The initial report posted on the paper’s website revealed that Calabasas was dealing with foggy conditions in the area where the incident occurred.

A spokesperson from the National Transportation Safety Board told ABC News that the circumstances surrounding the crash are unknown. The investigation continues as multiple services are on hand.

(Photo Credit: Yanshan Zhang/Getty Images)

​

Following the tragic incident, there were several reports surfacing about who was actually on the helicopter. Some news sources listed occupants that were not actually present, causing even more concerns about which news was true or false.

It was later revealed by several sources that one of the individuals on the crashed aircraft was Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna.

​

The location of the helicopter crash was only referenced as being in Calabasas, but the exact spot was not initially revealed. However, it later came to light that the incident took place very near the home of another prominent figure. 

The Daily Mail reported that the crash occurred behind the home of Kourtney Kardashian. Witnesses reported the helicopter sputtering prior to it going down.