Celebrity News January 26, 2020

Kobe Bryant, Daughter Gianna Die in Helicopter Crash

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Basketball legend Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California, around 9:45 a.m. Sunday morning, TMZ confirmed.

Also killed in the crash was Bryant's 13-year-old daughter Gianna. TMZ reports they were en route to the Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks for basketball practice.

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The scene in Calabasas, where all nine aboard were confirmed dead.

The Bryants and seven others — including a pilot — were aboard his private helicopter, a mode of transportation he frequently used, when it crashed, bursting into flames on a hill near Kourtney Kardashian's home.

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Kobe & Gianna watching the sport they loved.

TMZ reports that emergency personnel responded to the blaze, but that all nine on board had perished. In spite of wild speculation to the contrary, actor and retired sports star Rick Fox was not among the dead, People magazine confirms.

The cause of the crash is not known, but is under investigation.

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Kobe boarding his chopper in 2016

Kobe and Gianna are survived by wife and mom Vanessa, and by his children with Vanessa, Gianna's sisters Natalia, 17; Bianka, 3; and Capri, 7 mos.

Watch "Extra's" past interviews with Kobe below:

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