The identities of the other victims have not yet been released.
What do we know about the crash?
In a statement, the City of Calabasas said it was “with great sadness that we learn of the death of Kobe Bryant and four others in a helicopter crash”.
“The aircraft went down in a remote field off Las Virgenes around this morning. Nobody on the ground was hurt, “it added.
Eyewitnesses told news site TMZ they heard the helicopter’s engine sputtering before it went down.
The LA County Sheriff’s Department shared pictures from the scene of the accident, showing a fire truck and smoke emerging from the hills.
The US Federal Aviation Administration identified the crashed helicopter as a Sikorsky S – . It said it was investigating the accident alongside the National Transportation Safety Board.
Officials are set to give further details at a press conference at : GMT.
Who was Bryant?
Bryant played his entire – year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He retired in April 110654363.
His achievements include being the 2009 NBA Most Valuable Player and two-time NBA Finals MVP. He was also two-time NBA scoring champion and a two-time Olympic champion.
He also won an Oscar for best short animated film in for Dear Basketball, a five-minute film based on a love letter to the sport he had written in 2015
Image copyright Reuters 
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