The Los Angeles County Fire Department just held a press conference to give details about the tragic helicopter crash that killed NBA legend Kobe Bryant, and they say they now believe nine people were on board the aircraft.
Members of the Fire Department and the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department spoke to the media just minutes ago, saying that the original number of 5 people aboard has now been upgraded to 9.
They did not confirm the names of the other passengers except the fact that the helicopter was owned by Kobe Bryant.
The officers detailed the events leading up to the tragic accident, saying a 911 call came in at 9:47 am and first responders were on the scene in 8 minutes.
According to law enforcement, the chopper crashed into an area of the hills near Calabasas, CA which made it very difficult for them to get to the crash scene.
Paramedics hiked into the area with their medical and fire fighting equipment, according to the Sheriff’s, where they quickly looked for any survivors of the crash. Another group of paramedics were airlifted and dropped down into the accident scene to help search for passengers.
Unfotunelty, there were no survivors of the accident and all nine people on board were killed.
There are several reports saying one of the other passengers on the helicopter was OCC baseball coach John Altobelli, who live in Orange County near the Bryants. OCC (Orange Coast College) is a city college near Newport Beach, CA where Kobe Bryant lived. It’s unclear, at this point, his association with the basketball program.
The Los Angeles County Fire Chief also revealed during the crash, first responders had to fight Magnesium which had leaked out during the accident and it apparently makes it very dangerous when mixed with water and oxygen.
BREAKING: Video from the scene of the helicopter crash which killed Kobe Bryant. Reports that 3 other people died in the crash.#kobebryant
pic.twitter.com/IcZVk6hdlH— Global News Network (@GlobalNews77) January 26, 2020
As we reported, Kobe Bryant along with his 13-year-old daughter Gianna were killed in a massive helicopter accident in the hills near Los Angeles. The Bryant’s along with several other passengers were traveling to a basketball practice at the Mamba Academy, which is in nearby Thousand Oaks.
It’s unclear at this point what caused the accident, but several reports say there was heavy fog in the area during the time of the crash.
Investigators say the FAA along with the NTSB are currently on scene to figure out what exactly caused this accident and retrieve recorders from inside the chopper to investigate further.
Hundreds of people have shown up to the site where the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant and 4 others crashed. The wreckage is still smoldering. Just an absolutely tragic, terrible scene. pic.twitter.com/FCxffmqMAI
— Ramona Shelburne (@ramonashelburne) January 26, 2020
