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Kobe Bryant: ‘Chopper was flying in weather that didn’t meet standards’

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Kobe Bryant  adjusts his jersey during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on February 19 2012. The Suns defeated the Lakers 102-90. Picture: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
Kobe Bryant adjusts his jersey during the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center on February 19 2012. The Suns defeated the Lakers 102-90. Picture: Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Police Department air support division has confirmed that the helicopter that crashed with NBA star Kobe Bryant on board was flying in weather that did not meet its minimum standards for flying.

Nine people were killed in the crash that claimed the life of Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter.

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said eight passengers and the pilot of the aircraft died in the accident.

“There were no survivors ... There were nine people on board the aircraft – the pilot plus eight individuals,” Villanueva said.

The helicopter crashed in foggy weather in the Los Angeles suburb of Calabasas. Authorities said firefighters received a call at 9.47am about the crash, which caused a brush fire on a hillside.

The LAPD had to ground its helicopters until the fog lifted in the afternoon due to the weather conditions.

“The weather situation did not meet our minimum standards for flying,” said police spokesperson Josh Rubenstein.

Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said firefighters had to hike to the site with medical equipment and hose lines to extinguish the blaze.

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti confirmed that Bryant’s daughter Gianna was among the victims.

IRVINE, CA - JULY 26: Kobe Bryant and daughter Gi
Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant. Picture: Harry How/Getty Images

“LA is grieving with the Bryant family over the loss of Gianna, who perished with her father and friends in today’s tragedy,” Garcetti wrote on Twitter.

Gianna was one of Bryant’s four children with his wife Vanessa.

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 18: Kobe Bryant poses
Kobe Bryant with his family as his jerseys are retired in December 2017. Picture: Harry How/Getty Images

The retired NBA star (41) and Gianna were flying to a game she expected to play in when their helicopter crashed, according to US reports.

Local media said the other victims included another player and a parent.

Orange Coast College confirmed that its baseball coach, John Altobelli (56) was also on board the helicopter.

CNN said Altobelli’s wife, Keri, and one of their two daughters, Alyssa, were aboard the chopper as well.

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Kobe Bryant #24 of th
Kobe Bryant in action during his last game in 2016. Picture: Harry How/Getty Images

Villaneuva told reporters the authorities would not identify the victims pending notification of family members and identification from the coroner’s office.

“It would be extremely disrespectful to understand your loved one has perished and you learn about it from TMZ,” Villanueva said, referring to the celebrity news website that first broke the news about the crash.

“That is just wholly inappropriate, so we are not going to be going there. We are going to wait until the coroner does their job.”

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 25: Former Los Angeles
Former Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant. Picture: Robert Laberge/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 18: Kobe Bryant walk o
Kobe Bryant walks out to centre court during his jersey retirement ceremony on December 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. Picture: Harry How/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 18: Kobe Bryant poses
Kobe Bryant poses with his #8 and #24 Los Angeles Lakers jerseys. Picture: Harry How/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 18: The #8 and #24 jer
The #8 and #24 jerseys of Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. Picture: Harry How/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 24: Former Los Angeles Lak
Former Los Angeles Lakers player Shaquille ONeal and Kobe Bryant during the unveiling of ONeal's statue at Staples Center, LA, in 2017. Picture: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 13: Kobe Bryant #24 of th
Kobe Bryant goes up for a shot against Jeff Withey of the Utah Jazz on April 13, 2016. Picture: Harry How/Getty Images

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was dispatching an 18-person team to California to help with the investigation into the crash.

“Our team will be looking at the history of the pilot and whatever crew was on board,” said Jennifer Homendy, a member of the safety board.

“We will be looking at maintenance records of the helicopter. We will be looking at records of the owner and operator of the helicopter and a number of other things.”

She added that the helicopter was a Sikorsky S-76B that has a black box which investigators will seek to recover.

According to data from flightradar24.com, a flight tracking site, the chopper took off from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana at 9.06am.

It headed northwest, reportedly to Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park, about 137km away.

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