Former basketball player Kobe Bryant dies in helicopter crash, aged 41

January 29, 2020

On Sunday morning, a helicopter with United States basketball player and eight others on board crashed in, California, according to authorities. All people on board — Bryant aged 41, his daughter Gianna aged 13, and seven others — died in the crash.

On Twitter,, US sport columnist from ESPN, said Bryant and Gianna were on their way to a basketball game, and the passengers also included another player and the player's parent.

The former National Basketball Association (NBA) player, Bryant, joined the NBA in 1996. He was chosen by the in the 's first round. Before the season began, the Hornets traded him to the. Bryant stayed with the Lakers for 20 years, becoming an five times, an  selection 11 times, a  (Most Valuable Player) twice, an  18 times, including four times as All-Star MVP, and 2008 NBA MVP. He retired in 2016.

The city of Calabasas announced on Twitter the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board were to investigate the cause of the crash.