Oh no… there were NINE people on board (pilot and 8 passengers).
@jym626 I have not seen reports of 9, everything says 5.
The high school where he grew up is just a few miles from me and the gym is named after him. Such a shock.
Local news conference said “9” people killed.
9 was announced at a news conference.
Was anyone injured or killed on the ground?
The Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli has been confirmed dead.
I’ve been avoiding the news since it broke for fear other family members were also killed. So terribly tragic…
Highly unlikely but there is a hiking trail in that area. More likely Kobe was transporting his daughters teammates to a basketball game in Thousand Oaks.
That helicopter (S-76B) has a maximum capacity of 13 people.
Yes, they were going to his daughter travel basketball game. I read among passengers were other travel ball player(s) and their parent(s).
Oh so sorry to hear it is nine. For the last few hours I had only seen 5.
There was a tragic helicopter crash in Merion when Kobe would have been a child there (although I don’t know if the family was living in Merion then) Two children on the ground were killed as well as John Heinz
He was a gifted athlete but also won an Academy Award! I had no idea. So very sad for all the families impacted. A horrible tragedy.
John Altobelli and his wife Keri and their daughter Alyssa were also killed.
So very sad.
What a horrible accident for all families involved.
He loved the game and his daughter did too. Very sad.
https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/dear-basketball
This is really hitting me hard and I’m not a hard core bball fan by any stretch. When my daughter texted me I thought it was some sort of cruel joke. I’m only 12 years older than him and I grew up in the Philly area so I remember the stories about him taking Brandy to his prom. And I still live in the area and have attended many high school games at the gym named after him at Lower Merion High School.
I cannot imagine the pain that his wife, other children and the families of the other victims are feeling. Seeing the various tributes to him (and they now have Alicia Keys and Boyz II Men signing a tribute at the Grammys) is so sad and touching at the same time.
The Grammys did a very kind and beautiful job of remembering and celebrating him.
No one on the ground was hurt although there are homes and businesses not far as flights go from the crash site. He may have clipped a mountain peak in the fog and crashed below it.
My heart breaks especially for his other children. They’re too young to lose their dad and sister.
He did so much for LA and the surrounding communities that never made the news.
May all on board RIP.
I was doing a YouTube dive and it seems he really loved showing up and surprising fans (especially of the little variety) and making their day. Make A Wish says he granted over 200 wishes.
I know he was not without controversy, and this is confusing. It does seem as though he tried to evolve in a positive way throughout his life and did good things and made a lot of positive contributions in his life.
Can’t imagine how his wife is feeling. Losing your spouse is horrible but you get that it’s a possibility when you make your wills, etc. But you don’t envision losing your baby on the same day.