What We’ve Learned So Far: Helicopter Crash That Took The Lives Of Nine People

Earlier we here at IMU Media brought you the tragic news that Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter Gianna and 7 other people were killed in a helicopter crash in California. We know bring to you the latest information.

What We’ve Learned So Far

• A Sikorsky S-76B helicopter crashed just before 10 a.m. PT near Calabasas, California
• Bryant and his daughter were headed to Mamba Sports Academy in Thousand Oaks, California, for a youth basketball event
• The helicopter carrying 9 passengers total including the pilot was given special permutation to fly
• All 9 victims have been identified
• Pilot was warned by at one point by air traffic control “You’re still too low for flight following at this time”
• Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter Gianna was on board
• John Altobelli, a champion baseball coach at Orange Coast College, was killed along with his wife Keri and daughter Alyssa
• Christina Mauser, Sarah Chester, Payton Chester, and Ara Zobayan are the names of the other victim’s
• A brush fire caused by the crash prevented first responders from getting on scene right away
• An investigation is ongoing, and authorities say it could take days to recover the bodies
• There was no black box on the helicopter
• Flight conditions were bad it was very foggy
• Pilots name was Ara Zobayan

Our thoughts and prayers here at IMU Media go out to all the victim’s families in this devastating time.

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(Cover photo courtesy of Boston Globe, video courtesy of Today, source CBS News)