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Kobe Bryant fatal helicopter crash - 29 January 2020

NBA legend Kobe Bryant died on Sunday in a helicopter crash. The aircraft caught fire after it crashed in foggy weather. The accident, in suburban Los Angeles, killed all eight passengers and the pilot. Bryant was travelling with his 13 year old daughter Gianna.

Bryant, aged 41, was an incredibly successful American athlete. He only ever played for one team, the Los Angeles Lakers, during his 20 year basketball career. He was a five-time NBA champion and two-time Olympic gold medallist.

Kobe Bryant was also known for his animated short film 'Dear Basketball'. The work was a love letter to the sport which made him rich and famous. It won an Oscar in 2018.

Bryant's death has shocked basketball stars and celebrities worldwide, who have expressed their sadness at the news.

His fans were also deeply upset by the news and some gathered near the site of the crash.

Daniel Luchy, local resident: "There was plumes of smoke going up and you could see that there were already emergency personnel at the crash scene."

Chris Martin, local resident: "So I'm a pilot and I was scheduled to fly this morning and the conditions were 400 feet overcast, a half-mile visibility, mist and fog. It wasn't a condition that you'd want to fly in."