News of 41-year-old Basketball legend and five-time NBA champion, Kobe Bryant, and his lil’ 13-year-old daughter, Gianna Maria Onore Bryant and seven others sudden death in a helicopter crash shook the internet and world. The crash occurred in Calabasas, California on Sunday, 26th January 2020.
Kobe Bryant, was on air with his daughter, travelling to youth basketball academy when his life was cut short in a tragic crash. Kobe died alongside eight others which include his daughter. Reports have it that the helicopter boarding the NBA champion had received special approval to fly around Burbank in foggy weather.
LeBron James has gone on social media to express his utmost shock over the news of Kobe’s death. He wrote;
“I’m heartbroken and devastated my brother!!”
The shocking news which brought tears into the eyes of many all over the world, also received a myriad of tributes.
“Tonight is for Kobe —” [singing]
“We’re all feeling crazy sadness right now because earlier today Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero, and we’re literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built.”
“Kobe, my thoughts are with you. Absolutely rest in peace, young man — this loss is, it’s just hard to comprehend.”
“He was just such a wonderful kid. But more than that, has turned into a wonderful adult man.”
“Everything I do, I do it for him, obviously — really close friend, and this season’s for him.”
Crowd chant:
“Kobe, Kobe, Kobe, Kobe, Kobe, Kobe.”
Announcer:
“The N.B.A and the game of basketball will mourn this loss together. Please join us in a moment of silence for Kobe Bryant. Rest in peace, Mamba.”
Here’s what you need to know about the incidence:
Just before the crash occurred, the pilot was reported to have said he was trying to gain altitude. The federal investigators reported that the pilot who was having the controls of the helicopter, in a bid to avoid a cloud layer ahead, tried flying higher.
Controllers had requested more information from the pilot, but The National Transportation Safety Board claimed that there was no response from the pilot to that effect. The helicopter moved higher to about 2,300 feet and then heavy fall to the left.
While investigators are considering the possibility of weather conditions as at that time to have impacted in the crash as part of Southern California was shrouded in fog in the morning that Sunday, they are also researching the possibility that some other factors were involved in the sad occurrence.
According to Jennifer Homendy who is a member of the N.T.S.B. She said that the team takes a broad look around investigating a situation around an accident. She added on Monday during a news conference in California:
“We look at man, machine and the environment, and weather is just a small portion of that.”
It is reported that Federal officials are not likely to reach any conclusive result over the accident until a few months later. Homendy was asked if the sad incidence could have been avoided, and this is her response:
“It was a pretty devastating accident scene.”
It is reported that the helicopter boarding Kobe had no cockpit voice recorder. Investigators spend days looking around the debris of about 500 to 600 feet, to retrieve perishable evidence.
