# Kobe Bryant Dead in Helicopter Crash **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** celebrity-death, basketball-nba\ **Created:** [January 26, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010 "2020-01-26T19:33:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gray\_Ghost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c0e974/32.png) [@Gray\_Ghost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gray_Ghost)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/1 "2020-01-26T19:33:09Z")
[TMZ article](https://www.tmz.com/2020/01/26/kobe-bryant-killed-dead-helicopter-crash-in-calabasas/). From it: > [@](#): > > Kobe was traveling with at least 3 other people in his private helicopter when it went down. A fire broke out. Emergency personnel responded, but nobody on board survived. 5 people are confirmed dead. We’re told Vanessa Bryant was not among those on board. > > The cause of the crash is under investigation. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/2 "2020-01-26T19:52:50Z")
Just saw this on Twitter. Ugh. Way too soon ---
**Author:** ![Scoobysnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c4cdca/32.png) [@Scoobysnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scoobysnax)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/3 "2020-01-26T19:54:10Z")
TMZ is reporting that Kobe and 4 others died when his personal helicopter crashed in Calabasas > **[Kobe Bryant & Daughter Die in Helicopter Crash, 3 Bodies Recovered](https://www.tmz.com/2020/01/26/kobe-bryant-killed-dead-helicopter-crash-in-calabasas/)** > > Kobe Bryant has died. His daughter was also on board and passed away. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/4 "2020-01-26T19:58:44Z")
Fuck. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/5 "2020-01-26T19:58:52Z")
I’m hearing this too. Very tragic and sad. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/6 "2020-01-26T20:06:45Z")
Oh man. So sad. RIP Kobe. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/7 "2020-01-26T20:07:36Z")
Holy shit, what a January. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/8 "2020-01-26T20:09:09Z")
Wow I’m not that much of a sports fan but I did like Kobe. I’m also shocked to realize how young he was, he’s been famous so long I guess I assumed he was older by now. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/9 "2020-01-26T20:12:45Z")
Holy sh\*t. This is a shock. I think he still has young kids. I hold out a small hope that this is one of those celebrity rumors that circulates. ---
**Author:** ![EmilyG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emilyg/32/364_2.png) [@EmilyG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmilyG)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/10 "2020-01-26T20:15:28Z")
CNN is [reporting it too.](https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/kobe-bryant-dies-in-helicopter-crash/index.html) ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/11 "2020-01-26T20:18:16Z")
ESPN is reporting this, too. > **[Kobe, daughter Gianna die in helicopter crash](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/28569438/kobe-bryant-dead-helicopter-crash)** > > Lakers legend Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gianna died Sunday in a helicopter crash in California. ABC is also reporting that Kobe’s four daughters were aboard the helicopter. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/12 "2020-01-26T20:21:39Z")
This is going to be even more imprinted on people’s memory than the breaking news of Michael Jackson’s death eleven years ago. Kobe was a huge international icon. He probably had 300 million fans in China alone. ---
**Author:** ![not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/not_what_you_d_expect/32/3246_2.png) [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/not_what_you_d_expect)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/13 "2020-01-26T20:21:48Z")
I’m seeing reports that Rick Fox was onboard. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/14 "2020-01-26T20:24:46Z")
Now this is a damn shame. You don’t have to be tall to be a giant among men. But it makes for thrilling basketball. How strange for this to happen within 24 hours of James accomplishment. And how sad for all those who value Bryant’s contributions and leadership. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/15 "2020-01-26T20:25:39Z")
> [@pool](#): > > Wow I’m not that much of a sports fan but I did like Kobe. I’m also shocked to realize how young he was, he’s been famous so long I guess I assumed he was older by now. He entered the NBA right from high school, so you’ve heard of him since he was 18. I’m hearing on the news that Kobe was known to get around California in a helicopter. I took some flight lessons for a time from airplane pilots; they all were wary of helicopters, since you have limited options if something goes wrong in the air (unlike a plane, a copter can’t glide). I believe his wife just had a new baby. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/16 "2020-01-26T20:28:31Z")
ABC News said his four kids were on board. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/17 "2020-01-26T20:31:51Z")
Earlier thread in the Game Room: [https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=889050](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=889050) ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/18 "2020-01-26T20:32:57Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > Kobe was a huge international icon. He probably had 300 million fans in China alone. …and much of his childhood was spent in Italy. No doubt Phil Jackson will have some deep, insightful comments on his life and passing, at some point. No snark intended; I mean that seriously, based on a book Jackson wrote. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/19 "2020-01-26T20:35:17Z")
Reminds me of Colin Mcrae. So sad. ---
**Author:** ![Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/9de053/32.png) [@Jackknifed\_Juggernaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackknifed_Juggernaut)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2020, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010/20 "2020-01-26T20:38:04Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > ABC News said his four kids were on board. I can’t find any credible reports besides a snippet from a broadcast. In fact, most reports are saying that neither his wife nor any of his daughters were on it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/kobe-bryant-dead-in-helicopter-crash/847010.md?page=2)