Local and federal authorities are investigating the Southern California helicopter crash that claimed the lives of nine people — including 41-year-old NBA legend Kobe Bryant.
The helicopter crashed into a hillside in Calabasas, California yesterday morning, killing everyone on board, including Kobe's 13-year-old daughter Gianna.
Officials say the sheriff's office is working with the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration to determine the cause of the crash and have already secured the site.
However, the Los Angeles County Chief Medical Examiner says given the terrain and the condition of the site, the effort to recover the victims' bodies could take a couple of days.
The other victims have been identified as: Orange Coast College (OCC) baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife Keri, and daughter Alyssa (Gianna's teammate), as well as Christina Mauser, the top assistant coach of the Mamba girls’ basketball team, Payton Chester, a middle-school student, Sarah Chester (Payton's mother) and Bryant's private pilot, Ara Zobayan.
Meanwhile, heartbroken fans have been pouring into the areas surrounding the site, sending condolences on social media and paying tribute to Bryant.
Born in Philadelphia, Bryant played his entire professional career with the Los Angeles Lakers and won five NBA championships, before retiring in April 2016.
Bryant leaves behind his wife, Vanessa, and three daughters — the youngest of whom was born last June.
