Helicopter In Crash That Killed Kobe Bryant Was Made By Sikorsky

STRATFORD, CT — The helicopter involved in the crash that killed Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter and seven others Sunday in California was made by Sikorsky, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

"We extend our sincerest condolences to all those affected by the January 26th Sikorsky S-76B accident in Calabasas, California," the Stratford-based company said in a prepared statement. "We have been in contact with the (National Transportation Safety Board) and stand ready to provide assistance and support to the investigative authorities and our customer."

None of the people on board the helicopter survived the crash, which was called in at 9:47 a.m. in the 4200 block of Las Virgenes Road near Malibu, according to officials.

"Safety is our top priority; if there are any actionable findings from the investigation, we will inform our S-76 customers," the company said in the statement.

The FAA and the NTSB are investigating.

NTSB Spokeswoman Jennifer Homendy said at a brief press conference Sunday that a team of 18 investigators was en route to California from Washington, D.C., and was expected to arrive Sunday evening.

The cause of the crash was not immediately clear, but conditions were foggy in the Calabasas hills Sunday morning, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Flight transmissions showed the helicopter taking off from John Wayne Airport in Orange County before crashing on the Calabasas hillside.

Immediately following the crash, firefighters responded to the scene to douse the flames coming from the wreckage and a quarter-acre brush fire, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said at Sunday's news conference. Crews encountered difficulties as magnesium was at the crash site, which "is very hard for our firefighters to extinguish" due to its reaction with water and oxygen, he said.

The S-76 has been in production since 1977, according to Sikorsky's website. The helicopter is used for offshore missions, search and rescue, ambulance transportation, utility work and VIP transportation. More than 178 customers operate S-76 helicopters in a corporate or VIP role.

The helicopter involved in Sunday's crash had the tail number N72EX, the Los Angeles Times reported. Kurt Deetz, a pilot who flew Bryant from 2014 to 2016, told the Times the helicopter, built in 1991, was in "fantastic" condition. The aircraft previously belonged to the State of Illinois and was used for "VIP transport" of governors and other officials, according to multiple reports.

The helicopter was one of five aircraft sold by the state in 2015, then-Gov. Bruce Rauner said at the time. The state's online auction website said the helicopter sold for $515,161 in 2015. The site includes photos of both the interior and exterior of the helicopter. When Bryant used it, the aircraft was painted in gray and black with the athlete's Mamba emblem on the side, although it was owned by Island Express Helicopters, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Bryant, 41, was headed to a travel basketball game with his daughter, Gianna, 13, according to multiple reports. Other victims have been identified as John Altobelli, head baseball coach at Orange Coast College, his wife, Keri Altobelli, and his 13-year-old daughter, Alyssa — a teammate of Gianna Bryant's, the Los Angeles Times reported. The college confirmed Altobelli's death, saying he had worked at the school for 27 years.

Bryant played 20 seasons with the Lakers, becoming an A-level celebrity in Los Angeles and leading the team to five NBA titles. He retired in 2016, scoring 60 points in his final game. He ranks as the fourth-leading scorer in league history.