NBA legend Kobe Bryant, daughter killed in helicopter crash

As per reports, the helicopter slammed into a hillside in Calabasas and went down in a field off Las Virgenes. No one was hurt on the ground.

Gavin Masak, who lives close to the crash site, told CBS News, "It wasn't exactly like an explosion sound but it was like a loud boom. It sounded like a helicopter, but it sounded like a jet."

The aircraft, made in 1991, departed from John Wayne Airport at 9:06 am and met the deadly fate an hour later. Scott Daehlin, another eyewitness who saw the turn of events, said no one could have survived the crash.

"Because of its proximity to the ground, I knew something was wrong. It was hovering real low like they were searching to land," he said.

Kobe was among the few sporting personalities who didn't need a second name. His 20-year-old illustrious career with Los Angeles Lakers made sure of that.

He started with the NBA in 1996, straight after completing high school.

At the time, Lakers was looking to create a new batch of stars, just like Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Magic Johnson. And Kobe delivered well.

With his impeccable scoring ability, Kobe won two gold medals in the Olympics, two NBA Finals Most Valuable Player (MVPs) and a regular season MVP in 2008.

In 2016, Kobe, famous as Black Mamba, retired with 33,643 points. This weekend, LeBron James broke his record.

The team retired both jersey no. 8 and 24, that Kobe donned during his association with them.

Although born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Kobe spent some years of his life (from age six to 13) in Italy. There, he was fantasized by soccer.

"When I was growing up in Italy, I've obviously witnessed racism firsthand going to certain soccer matches and things of that nature," he told CNN.

After moving back to the United States, Kobe pursued his love for basketball.

Kobe's life, however, was not without controversies. In 2003, he was accused of sexual harassment by a 19-year-old hotel employee in Colorado.

He said the relationship was consensual and later, the charges were dropped after the woman refused to testify.

Subsequently, she filed a civil suit and both reached an out of court settlement. Kobe apologized but didn't admit any guilt.

After the rape allegations, Kobe moved swiftly to repair his damaged reputation. Soon, he became a dedicated investor and celebrated businessman.

Animated short Dear Basketball, which was based on a poem he penned, got Kobe an Oscar in 2018.

Animator Glen Keane and Oscar-winning composer John Williams worked with him on the project. As he won the award, Kobe said it was surreal.

Kobe's death left everyone, from NBA lovers to Hollywood stars, heartbroken. Alicia Keys, who hosted Grammys on Sunday, started the night with a powerful speech.

"Earlier today, Los Angeles, America and the whole wide world lost a hero. We're literally standing here heartbroken in the house that Kobe Bryant built," she said, and then crooned "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday".

Others who expressed grief were former US President Barack Obama, current one Donald Trump, football legend Cristiano Ronaldo, and Indian cricket team captain Virat Kohli.

Ronaldo said Kobe was an inspiration to many while Kohli remembered getting up early to watch the "magician do things on the court".

Trump said the loss of Gianna made this moment absolutely devastating.