Crews inspect site of fatal helicopter crash

Emergency crews scoured the fatal helicopter crash site outside Calabasas, California on Sunday that took the life of retired basketball star Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others.

Authorities described the fiery wreckage of twin-engine Sikorsky S-76 was difficult to access after the crash around 10 a.m. local time, but in the afternoon after the fires were extinguished, crews could move freely around the site.

The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team of 18 people to the scene of the helicopter crash to investigate as per standard procedure in aerial incidents.

NBA legend Kobe Bryant, his daughter and seven others were killed Sunday when their helicopter plunged into a steep hillside in dense morning fog in Southern California, his sudden death at age 41 touching off an outpouring of grief for a star whose celebrity transcended basketball.

The chopper went down in Calabasas, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Authorities said nine people were aboard and presumed dead. Bryant, an all-time basketball great who spent his entire 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers, was among the victims, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, also was killed, a different person familiar with the case said.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva would not confirm the identities of the victims Sunday pending official word from the coroner.

“God bless their souls,” Villanueva said at a news conference.

The cause of the crash was unknown.

News of the charismatic superstar’s death rocketed around the sports and entertainment worlds, with many taking to Twitter to register their shock, disbelief and anguish.

“Words can’t describe the pain I am feeling. I loved Kobe — he was like a little brother to me,” retired NBA great Michael Jordan said. “We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force.”