Kobe Bryant death anniversary: what's known about the helicopter crash?
It's been a year since it was confirmed that the world famous NBA star had been killed in a helicopter crash, along with his daughter and seven others.
On Sunday 26 January 2020 the world of sport was shocked after it was confirmed that Kobe Bryant, the world famous former NBA star and player synonymous with the LA Lakers franchise had been killed in a helicopter crash, along with his daughter and seven other passengers.
The accident happened in Calabasas (California) as the former NBA superstar was travelling with eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna in his private helicopter (a Sikorsky S-76B, a helicopter used by the likes of Donald Trump and the Queen of England) a fire is believed to have started.
Bryant played with the Lakers for twenty seasons in the NBA picking up five championship rings during that time. His wife and he had four children, Natalia, Gianna, Bianka, and Capri. Gianna was on board with her father where she was set to participate in a game she was playing in at the star's academy on the outskirts of the city.
A year later, and the loss of Kobe and Gianna Bryant is still heart-wrenching.
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) January 26, 2021
May the souls of all the lives lost in that horrific accident rest in peace.
💜💛 pic.twitter.com/FOh6U1mJK1
Certified as an accident
The cause of death for all nine victims of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna has been ruled as blunt trauma, a post-mortem has confirmed.
The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-coroner in May 2020 published the results from examinations of those who lost their lives in the incident in Calabasas, California on 26 January 2020.
A statement read: "On January 28, the cause of death for all nine decedents was certified as blunt trauma. The manner of death was certified as accident."
Final report in February
The National Transportation Safety Board is set to release its final report on the incident on 9 February and the report is also set to include a proximate cause and subsequent safety recommendations.
The final report will also give the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) opportunity to make safety recommendations to the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) which can then choose whether or not to enact them.