🕷️ Crawler Inspector

URL Lookup

Direct Parameter Lookup

Raw Queries and Responses

1. Shard Calculation

Query:

Response:

Calculated Shard: 115 (from laksa049)

2. Crawled Status Check

Query:

curl -X POST \
  'http://laksa115.int.ahrefs:8124/' \
  -H 'Content-Type: text/plain' \
  -H 'X-ClickHouse-Database: crawler3' \
  -H 'Authorization: Basic YXBpOg==' \
  -d 'SELECT getAhrefsURLFromUnparsed(src_unparsed) AS found_url, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(download_stamp), 0) AS crawl_time, ifNull(toUnixTimestamp(props_url_first_seen), 0) AS first_indexed_time, download_http_code AS http_code, src_unparsed AS src_unparsed, src_root_hash AS src_root_hash, history_drop_reason AS history_drop_reason, meta_title AS meta_title, meta_descriptions AS meta_descriptions, attrs_boilerpipe_text AS attrs_boilerpipe_text, attrs_markdown AS attrs_markdown, attrs_readable_markdown AS attrs_readable_markdown, meta_canonical AS meta_canonical FROM crawler3.page_info_local FINAL PREWHERE (src_root_hash, src_unparsed) IN ((getAhrefsRootHashFromUnparsed(getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/kobe-bryant-dead-helicopter-crash-lakers-1203480844/\')), getAhrefsUnparsedNoserviceFromURL(\'https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/kobe-bryant-dead-helicopter-crash-lakers-1203480844/\'))) FORMAT JSONEachRow'

Response:

{"found_url":"https:\/\/variety.com\/2020\/biz\/news\/kobe-bryant-dead-helicopter-crash-lakers-1203480844\/","crawl_time":1776328242,"first_indexed_time":1580068540,"http_code":200,"src_unparsed":"com,variety!\/2020\/biz\/news\/kobe-bryant-dead-helicopter-crash-lakers-1203480844\/ s443","src_root_hash":"6137995448256228915","history_drop_reason":null,"meta_title":"Kobe Bryant Dead: Lakers Superstar Killed in Helicopter Crash","meta_descriptions":["Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar and future NBA Hall of Famer, died on Sunday in a helicopter crash."],"attrs_boilerpipe_text":"Kobe Bryant\n, the sports icon who won five NBA championships with the\nLos Angeles Lakers\nand was often compared to Michael Jordan, died Sunday in a helicopter crash. He was 41.\nBryant was traveling in his private helicopter when it crashed in the Los Angeles County suburb of Calabasas. Eight other people were killed, with no survivors. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna (“Gigi”) was among the deceased.\nThe chopper was reportedly en route to Gigi’s basketball game in Thousand Oaks.\nInvestigators are trying to determine the cause of the crash. There was extensive fog in the Los Angeles area on Sunday morning.\nL.A. County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said the accident was first reported at 9:46 a.m. PST. About 56 fire personnel were dispatched to the scene, near the intersection of Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street. The crash sparked a brush fire that spread to about 1\/4 acre before firefighters were able to put it out. The firefighters were able to determine that no one survived the crash.\nVillanueva said that a flight manifest listed eight passengers and one pilot. Officials initially said that five people were killed.\nAir traffic control audio, posted on LiveATC.net, revealed communications between the pilot and the tower as the helicopter navigated around the Van Nuys airport. The last communication that can be heard is the controller telling the pilot they were “still too low level” to be tracked on the radar. Otherwise, the audio does not indicate anything amiss with the flight.\nThe helicopter had flown from Orange County, near Bryant’s Newport Beach home.\nFirst reported by TMZ, news of Bryant’s death sent shock waves throughout the world, with fellow athletes, celebrities and politicians paying tribute to the legendary Laker, known as “The Black Mamba,” while also sending heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their children.\n“There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of losing my niece Gigi and my brother,” Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s former Lakers teammate posted on Twitter. “I’m sick right now.”\nFormer President Barack Obama, who hosted Bryant and the Lakers at the White House following the team’s 2010 NBA Championship, wrote: “Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.”\nOn Saturday night, current Laker LeBron James passed Bryant as the NBA’s basketball’s third-highest scorer of all-time. In his final message on Twitter, Bryant\nsent\nhis congratulations to James following the Lakers’ game in Philadelphia, which also happens to be Bryant’s hometown.\nDrafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets out of Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia — he would later became the youngest player to play in the NBA — Bryant was traded to the Lakers where he became a fan favorite overnight. He wore both numbers 8 and 24 for the Lakers, the organization where he spent his entire 20-year career. His two jerseys were both retired, an NBA first, following his exit from the league in 2016.\nWidely considered as one of the greatest players in NBA history, Bryant was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and was elected to the All-Star team eighteen times. He went on to win two gold medals with the USA Men’s Basketball team – in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics and 2012 in London.\nAlongside O’Neal and coach Phil Jackson, Bryant helped revitalize Hollywood’s favorite sports team in the late 1990s and early 2000s when the Lakers moved from the Inglewood Forum to Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.\nBryant’s highest scoring game came in 2002 when he posted 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. It’s the second-highest point total ever for an NBA player behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962.\nDespite all of the “Ko-Be!” chants and on-court accolades, Bryant was not immune to controversy. In 2003, he was accused of sexually assaulting a hotel employee in Colorado. The case was dropped the following year, and Bryant issued a public apology alongside his wife, Vanessa. “Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did,” he said.\nAfter retiring from the NBA, Bryant dug further into his Hollywood roots, launching the production company, Granity, which focused on projects that blended both sports and entertainment. Much like his basketball career, he quickly rose to the top in the entertainment arena, winning an Academy Award in 2018 for the short film, “Dear Basketball,” directed by Glen Keane, which was based on a poem Bryant wrote.\nSeveral documentaries covered Bryant’s life and career, including Spike Lee’s 2009 “Kobe Doin’ Work” and “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” a 2015 Showtime special.\nBryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three daughters, Natalia, Bianca and Capri.\nGene Maddaus contributed to this report. ","attrs_markdown":"![an image, when javascript is unavailable](https:\/\/sb.scorecardresearch.com\/p?c1=2&c2=6035310&c4=&cv=3.9&cj=1)\n\n- [Plus Icon Film](https:\/\/variety.com\/v\/film\/)\n- [Plus Icon TV](https:\/\/variety.com\/v\/tv\/)\n- [Plus Icon What To Watch](https:\/\/variety.com\/what-to-watch-streaming-movies-shows-online\/)\n- [Plus Icon Music](https:\/\/variety.com\/v\/music\/)\n- [Plus Icon Docs](https:\/\/variety.com\/t\/documentaries-to-watch\/)\n- [Plus Icon Digital & Gaming](https:\/\/variety.com\/v\/digital\/)\n- [Plus Icon Global](https:\/\/variety.com\/c\/global\/)\n- [Plus Icon Awards Circuit](https:\/\/variety.com\/e\/contenders\/)\n- [Plus Icon Video](https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@variety\/videos)\n- [Plus Icon What To Hear](https:\/\/variety.com\/t\/what-to-hear\/)\n\nPlus Icon\n\nClick to expand the Mega Menu\n\nPlus Icon\n\nClick to Expand Search Input\n\n- [Got a Tip?](https:\/\/variety.com\/tips)\n- [Newsletters](https:\/\/cloud.email.variety.com\/signup\/)\n\n[Switch edition between U.S. Edition Asia Edition Global Edition](https:\/\/variety.com\/2020\/biz\/news\/kobe-bryant-dead-helicopter-crash-lakers-1203480844\/)\n\n- [U.S.](https:\/\/variety.com\/)\n- [Asia](https:\/\/variety.com\/c\/asia\/)\n- [Global](https:\/\/variety.com\/c\/global\/)\n\n[Variety](https:\/\/variety.com\/)\n\nPlus Icon\n\nClick to expand the Mega Menu\n\nPlus Icon\n\nClick to Expand Search Input\n\n[Variety](https:\/\/variety.com\/)\n\n[Plus Icon Read Next: LISTEN: Cannes Film Festival Slate Showcases Euro Auteurs; Patricia Glaser Defends Casey Wasserman and More From Variety’s Power of Law](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/biz\/news\/cannes-film-festival-patricia-glaser-casey-wasserman-1236712790\/)\n\n1. [Home](https:\/\/variety.com\/)\n2. [Biz](https:\/\/variety.com\/v\/biz\/)\n3. [News](https:\/\/variety.com\/c\/news\/)\n\nJan 26, 2020 11:57am PT\n# Kobe Bryant Dies in Helicopter Crash\nBy  [Stuart Oldham](https:\/\/variety.com\/author\/stuart-oldham\/)\n\nPlus Icon\n\n### [Stuart Oldham](https:\/\/variety.com\/author\/stuart-oldham\/)\nEditor, Variety.com\n\n- [Friends and Collaborators Mourn the Loss of Director Lynn Shelton: ‘She Was Only Just Getting Started’](https:\/\/variety.com\/2020\/film\/news\/lynn-shelton-death-sundance-filmmakers-mark-duplass-mindy-kaling-alison-brie-reese-witherspoon-little-fires-everywhere-kerry-washington-1234608673\/)\n  6 years ago\n- [Thom Yorke Debuts New Song on ‘The Tonight Show’ (Watch)](https:\/\/variety.com\/2020\/music\/news\/thom-yorke-new-song-plasticine-figures-video-tonight-show-fallon-radiohead-1234593842\/)\n  6 years ago\n- [LA County Extends Stay at Home Order to May 15](https:\/\/variety.com\/2020\/biz\/news\/la-county-extends-stay-at-home-order-to-may-15-1234577492\/)\n  6 years ago\n\n[See All](https:\/\/variety.com\/author\/stuart-oldham\/)\n\n![Thumbnail of the embedded video](https:\/\/source.unsplash.com\/random\/595x333)\n\n[Kobe Bryant](https:\/\/variety.com\/t\/kobe-bryant\/), the sports icon who won five NBA championships with the [Los Angeles Lakers](https:\/\/variety.com\/t\/los-angeles-lakers\/) and was often compared to Michael Jordan, died Sunday in a helicopter crash. He was 41.\n\nBryant was traveling in his private helicopter when it crashed in the Los Angeles County suburb of Calabasas. Eight other people were killed, with no survivors. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna (“Gigi”) was among the deceased.\n\nThe chopper was reportedly en route to Gigi’s basketball game in Thousand Oaks.\n\nInvestigators are trying to determine the cause of the crash. There was extensive fog in the Los Angeles area on Sunday morning.\n\n## Related Stories\n[![Disclosure Day](https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/discolosure-day.jpg?w=250&h=167&crop=1)](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/steven-spielberg-hollywood-original-movies-disclosure-day-cinemacon-1236722625\/)\n\n### [Steven Spielberg Warns Hollywood Must Invest in Original Stories or Movies Will 'Run Out of Gas,' Debuts Eerie New 'Disclosure Day' Trailer at CinemaCon](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/steven-spielberg-hollywood-original-movies-disclosure-day-cinemacon-1236722625\/)\n\n[![Godzilla Minus One](https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Godzilla-Minus-One.jpg?w=250&h=167&crop=1)](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/godzilla-minus-zero-trailer-new-york-1236712354\/)\n\n### ['Godzilla Minus Zero' Trailer Brings the Kaiju to New York City; Director Reveals First Plot Details and Imax Release](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/godzilla-minus-zero-trailer-new-york-1236712354\/)\n\nL.A. County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said the accident was first reported at 9:46 a.m. PST. About 56 fire personnel were dispatched to the scene, near the intersection of Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street. The crash sparked a brush fire that spread to about 1\/4 acre before firefighters were able to put it out. The firefighters were able to determine that no one survived the crash.\n\nVillanueva said that a flight manifest listed eight passengers and one pilot. Officials initially said that five people were killed.\n\nAir traffic control audio, posted on LiveATC.net, revealed communications between the pilot and the tower as the helicopter navigated around the Van Nuys airport. The last communication that can be heard is the controller telling the pilot they were “still too low level” to be tracked on the radar. Otherwise, the audio does not indicate anything amiss with the flight.\n\nThe helicopter had flown from Orange County, near Bryant’s Newport Beach home.\n\nFirst reported by TMZ, news of Bryant’s death sent shock waves throughout the world, with fellow athletes, celebrities and politicians paying tribute to the legendary Laker, known as “The Black Mamba,” while also sending heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their children.\n\n“There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of losing my niece Gigi and my brother,” Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s former Lakers teammate posted on Twitter. “I’m sick right now.”\n\nFormer President Barack Obama, who hosted Bryant and the Lakers at the White House following the team’s 2010 NBA Championship, wrote: “Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.”\n\nOn Saturday night, current Laker LeBron James passed Bryant as the NBA’s basketball’s third-highest scorer of all-time. In his final message on Twitter, Bryant [sent](https:\/\/twitter.com\/kobebryant\/status\/1221276426164269056) his congratulations to James following the Lakers’ game in Philadelphia, which also happens to be Bryant’s hometown.\n\nDrafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets out of Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia — he would later became the youngest player to play in the NBA — Bryant was traded to the Lakers where he became a fan favorite overnight. He wore both numbers 8 and 24 for the Lakers, the organization where he spent his entire 20-year career. His two jerseys were both retired, an NBA first, following his exit from the league in 2016.\n\nWidely considered as one of the greatest players in NBA history, Bryant was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and was elected to the All-Star team eighteen times. He went on to win two gold medals with the USA Men’s Basketball team – in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics and 2012 in London.\n\nAlongside O’Neal and coach Phil Jackson, Bryant helped revitalize Hollywood’s favorite sports team in the late 1990s and early 2000s when the Lakers moved from the Inglewood Forum to Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.\n\nBryant’s highest scoring game came in 2002 when he posted 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. It’s the second-highest point total ever for an NBA player behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962.\n\nDespite all of the “Ko-Be!” chants and on-court accolades, Bryant was not immune to controversy. In 2003, he was accused of sexually assaulting a hotel employee in Colorado. The case was dropped the following year, and Bryant issued a public apology alongside his wife, Vanessa. “Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did,” he said.\n\nAfter retiring from the NBA, Bryant dug further into his Hollywood roots, launching the production company, Granity, which focused on projects that blended both sports and entertainment. Much like his basketball career, he quickly rose to the top in the entertainment arena, winning an Academy Award in 2018 for the short film, “Dear Basketball,” directed by Glen Keane, which was based on a poem Bryant wrote.\n\nSeveral documentaries covered Bryant’s life and career, including Spike Lee’s 2009 “Kobe Doin’ Work” and “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” a 2015 Showtime special.\n\nBryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three daughters, Natalia, Bianca and Capri.\n\n*Gene Maddaus contributed to this report.*\n\n#### Read More About:\n- [Kobe Bryant,](https:\/\/variety.com\/t\/kobe-bryant\/)\n- [Los Angeles Lakers](https:\/\/variety.com\/t\/los-angeles-lakers\/)\n\n[Jump to Comments](https:\/\/variety.com\/2020\/biz\/news\/kobe-bryant-dead-helicopter-crash-lakers-1203480844\/#article-comments)\n\n## More from Variety\n- [![Oz Perkins and Nicolas Cage at “Longlegs” Los Angeles premiere held at the Egyptian Theater on July 8, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.](https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/MAB_7177.jpg?w=250&h=167&crop=1)](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/nicolas-cage-longlegs-sequel-osgood-perkins-1236721703\/)\n  \n  ### [Nicolas Cage Returning for New ‘Longlegs’ Movie From Osgood Perkins](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/nicolas-cage-longlegs-sequel-osgood-perkins-1236721703\/)\n- [![Lords of War](https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Nicholas-Cage-reprises-the-role-of-notorious-arms-dealer-Yuri-Orlov-Credit-Khalil-Nemmaoui.jpg?w=250&h=167&crop=1)](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/nicolas-cage-bill-skarsgard-lords-of-war-acquired-vertical-1236713056\/)\n  \n  ### [Nicolas Cage and Bill Skarsgård Sequel ‘Lords of War’ Acquired by Vertical for U.S.](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/nicolas-cage-bill-skarsgard-lords-of-war-acquired-vertical-1236713056\/)\n\nJavaScript is required to load the comments.\n\nLoading comments...\n\n## Comments navigation\n[← Newer comments](https:\/\/variety.com\/2020\/biz\/news\/kobe-bryant-dead-helicopter-crash-lakers-1203480844\/comment-page-2\/#comments)\n\n## Comments navigation\n[← Newer comments](https:\/\/variety.com\/2020\/biz\/news\/kobe-bryant-dead-helicopter-crash-lakers-1203480844\/comment-page-2\/#comments)\n\n## Most Popular\n- ### [‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’ Sets Cast: Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood Officially Return, Plus Jamie Dornan as Aragorn and…](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/lord-of-the-rings-hunt-for-gollum-jamie-dornan-aragorn-1236625399\/)\n  [![Lord of the Rings](https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/MixCollage-14-Apr-2026-05-30-PM-3636.jpg?w=250&h=167&crop=1)](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/lord-of-the-rings-hunt-for-gollum-jamie-dornan-aragorn-1236625399\/)\n- ### ['Spaceballs 2' Trailer Spoofs 'Star Wars' Lightsaber Fights, 'Avatar' and Hollywood Mergers in Hilarious Sequel Titled ‘The New One’](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/spaceballs-2-trailer-star-wars-the-new-one-title-1236720900\/)\n  [![SPACEBALLS, from left: Rick Moranis, George Wyner, 1987, © MGM\/courtesy Everett Collection](https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/spaceballs.jpg?w=250&h=167&crop=1)](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/spaceballs-2-trailer-star-wars-the-new-one-title-1236720900\/)\n- ### [‘The Odyssey’ Stuns CinemaCon With Intense Trojan Horse Attack Footage; Christopher Nolan Says Movie Was an ‘Absolute Nightmare to Film — in All the…](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/the-odyssey-trojan-horse-footage-cinemacon-christopher-nolan-1236710794\/)\n  [![The Odyssey](https:\/\/variety.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/odyssey.png?w=250&h=167&crop=1)](https:\/\/variety.com\/2026\/film\/news\/the-odyssey-trojan-horse-footage-cinemacon-christopher-nolan-1236710794\/)\n- ### [Florence Pugh, Pedro Pascal and More Join Fight to Block Paramount-Warner Bros. 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All Rights Reserved.\n\n[Icon Link Plus Icon](https:\/\/pmc.com\/ \"Plus Icon\")\n\nad\n\n![Quantcast](https:\/\/pixel.quantserve.com\/pixel?a.1=&a.2=p-31f3D02tYU8zY)\n\n![](https:\/\/px.ads.linkedin.com\/collect\/?pid=1429113&fmt=gif)\n\nPMC\n\nVariety is a part of Penske Media Corporation. © 2026 Variety Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Variety and the Flying V logos are trademarks of Variety Media, LLC.\n\nOur Sites\n\n- [Art in America](https:\/\/www.artnews.com\/c\/art-in-america\/)\n- [Artforum](https:\/\/www.artforum.com\/)\n- [ARTnews](https:\/\/www.artnews.com\/)\n- [Billboard](https:\/\/www.billboard.com\/)\n- [BlogHer](https:\/\/www.blogher.com\/)\n- [Deadline](https:\/\/deadline.com\/)\n- [Flow Space](https:\/\/www.theflowspace.com\/)\n- [Gold Derby](https:\/\/www.goldderby.com\/)\n- [IndieWire](https:\/\/www.indiewire.com\/)\n- [Robb Report](https:\/\/robbreport.com\/)\n- [Rolling Stone](https:\/\/www.rollingstone.com\/)\n- [SheKnows](https:\/\/www.sheknows.com\/)\n- [Soaps](https:\/\/soaps.sheknows.com\/)\n- [Sourcing Journal](https:\/\/sourcingjournal.com\/)\n- [Sportico](https:\/\/www.sportico.com\/)\n- [StyleCaster](https:\/\/stylecaster.com\/)\n- [The Hollywood Reporter](https:\/\/www.hollywoodreporter.com\/)\n- [TVLine](https:\/\/tvline.com\/)\n- [Variety](https:\/\/variety.com\/)\n- [Vibe](https:\/\/www.vibe.com\/)\n- [WWD](https:\/\/wwd.com\/)","attrs_readable_markdown":"[Kobe Bryant](https:\/\/variety.com\/t\/kobe-bryant\/), the sports icon who won five NBA championships with the [Los Angeles Lakers](https:\/\/variety.com\/t\/los-angeles-lakers\/) and was often compared to Michael Jordan, died Sunday in a helicopter crash. He was 41.\n\nBryant was traveling in his private helicopter when it crashed in the Los Angeles County suburb of Calabasas. Eight other people were killed, with no survivors. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna (“Gigi”) was among the deceased.\n\nThe chopper was reportedly en route to Gigi’s basketball game in Thousand Oaks.\n\nInvestigators are trying to determine the cause of the crash. There was extensive fog in the Los Angeles area on Sunday morning.\n\nL.A. County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said the accident was first reported at 9:46 a.m. PST. About 56 fire personnel were dispatched to the scene, near the intersection of Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street. The crash sparked a brush fire that spread to about 1\/4 acre before firefighters were able to put it out. The firefighters were able to determine that no one survived the crash.\n\nVillanueva said that a flight manifest listed eight passengers and one pilot. Officials initially said that five people were killed.\n\nAir traffic control audio, posted on LiveATC.net, revealed communications between the pilot and the tower as the helicopter navigated around the Van Nuys airport. The last communication that can be heard is the controller telling the pilot they were “still too low level” to be tracked on the radar. Otherwise, the audio does not indicate anything amiss with the flight.\n\nThe helicopter had flown from Orange County, near Bryant’s Newport Beach home.\n\nFirst reported by TMZ, news of Bryant’s death sent shock waves throughout the world, with fellow athletes, celebrities and politicians paying tribute to the legendary Laker, known as “The Black Mamba,” while also sending heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their children.\n\n“There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of losing my niece Gigi and my brother,” Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s former Lakers teammate posted on Twitter. “I’m sick right now.”\n\nFormer President Barack Obama, who hosted Bryant and the Lakers at the White House following the team’s 2010 NBA Championship, wrote: “Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.”\n\nOn Saturday night, current Laker LeBron James passed Bryant as the NBA’s basketball’s third-highest scorer of all-time. In his final message on Twitter, Bryant [sent](https:\/\/twitter.com\/kobebryant\/status\/1221276426164269056) his congratulations to James following the Lakers’ game in Philadelphia, which also happens to be Bryant’s hometown.\n\nDrafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets out of Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia — he would later became the youngest player to play in the NBA — Bryant was traded to the Lakers where he became a fan favorite overnight. He wore both numbers 8 and 24 for the Lakers, the organization where he spent his entire 20-year career. His two jerseys were both retired, an NBA first, following his exit from the league in 2016.\n\nWidely considered as one of the greatest players in NBA history, Bryant was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and was elected to the All-Star team eighteen times. He went on to win two gold medals with the USA Men’s Basketball team – in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics and 2012 in London.\n\nAlongside O’Neal and coach Phil Jackson, Bryant helped revitalize Hollywood’s favorite sports team in the late 1990s and early 2000s when the Lakers moved from the Inglewood Forum to Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles.\n\nBryant’s highest scoring game came in 2002 when he posted 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. It’s the second-highest point total ever for an NBA player behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962.\n\nDespite all of the “Ko-Be!” chants and on-court accolades, Bryant was not immune to controversy. In 2003, he was accused of sexually assaulting a hotel employee in Colorado. The case was dropped the following year, and Bryant issued a public apology alongside his wife, Vanessa. “Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did,” he said.\n\nAfter retiring from the NBA, Bryant dug further into his Hollywood roots, launching the production company, Granity, which focused on projects that blended both sports and entertainment. Much like his basketball career, he quickly rose to the top in the entertainment arena, winning an Academy Award in 2018 for the short film, “Dear Basketball,” directed by Glen Keane, which was based on a poem Bryant wrote.\n\nSeveral documentaries covered Bryant’s life and career, including Spike Lee’s 2009 “Kobe Doin’ Work” and “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” a 2015 Showtime special.\n\nBryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three daughters, Natalia, Bianca and Capri.\n\n*Gene Maddaus contributed to this report.*\n\n![](https:\/\/px.ads.linkedin.com\/collect\/?pid=1429113&fmt=gif)","meta_canonical":null}

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First Indexed	2020-01-26 19:55:40 (6 years ago)
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Meta Title	Kobe Bryant Dead: Lakers Superstar Killed in Helicopter Crash
Meta Description	Kobe Bryant, the Los Angeles Lakers superstar and future NBA Hall of Famer, died on Sunday in a helicopter crash.
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Boilerpipe Text	Kobe Bryant , the sports icon who won five NBA championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and was often compared to Michael Jordan, died Sunday in a helicopter crash. He was 41. Bryant was traveling in his private helicopter when it crashed in the Los Angeles County suburb of Calabasas. Eight other people were killed, with no survivors. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna (“Gigi”) was among the deceased. The chopper was reportedly en route to Gigi’s basketball game in Thousand Oaks. Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the crash. There was extensive fog in the Los Angeles area on Sunday morning. L.A. County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said the accident was first reported at 9:46 a.m. PST. About 56 fire personnel were dispatched to the scene, near the intersection of Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street. The crash sparked a brush fire that spread to about 1/4 acre before firefighters were able to put it out. The firefighters were able to determine that no one survived the crash. Villanueva said that a flight manifest listed eight passengers and one pilot. Officials initially said that five people were killed. Air traffic control audio, posted on LiveATC.net, revealed communications between the pilot and the tower as the helicopter navigated around the Van Nuys airport. The last communication that can be heard is the controller telling the pilot they were “still too low level” to be tracked on the radar. Otherwise, the audio does not indicate anything amiss with the flight. The helicopter had flown from Orange County, near Bryant’s Newport Beach home. First reported by TMZ, news of Bryant’s death sent shock waves throughout the world, with fellow athletes, celebrities and politicians paying tribute to the legendary Laker, known as “The Black Mamba,” while also sending heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their children. “There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of losing my niece Gigi and my brother,” Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s former Lakers teammate posted on Twitter. “I’m sick right now.” Former President Barack Obama, who hosted Bryant and the Lakers at the White House following the team’s 2010 NBA Championship, wrote: “Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.” On Saturday night, current Laker LeBron James passed Bryant as the NBA’s basketball’s third-highest scorer of all-time. In his final message on Twitter, Bryant sent his congratulations to James following the Lakers’ game in Philadelphia, which also happens to be Bryant’s hometown. Drafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets out of Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia — he would later became the youngest player to play in the NBA — Bryant was traded to the Lakers where he became a fan favorite overnight. He wore both numbers 8 and 24 for the Lakers, the organization where he spent his entire 20-year career. His two jerseys were both retired, an NBA first, following his exit from the league in 2016. Widely considered as one of the greatest players in NBA history, Bryant was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and was elected to the All-Star team eighteen times. He went on to win two gold medals with the USA Men’s Basketball team – in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics and 2012 in London. Alongside O’Neal and coach Phil Jackson, Bryant helped revitalize Hollywood’s favorite sports team in the late 1990s and early 2000s when the Lakers moved from the Inglewood Forum to Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. Bryant’s highest scoring game came in 2002 when he posted 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. It’s the second-highest point total ever for an NBA player behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962. Despite all of the “Ko-Be!” chants and on-court accolades, Bryant was not immune to controversy. In 2003, he was accused of sexually assaulting a hotel employee in Colorado. The case was dropped the following year, and Bryant issued a public apology alongside his wife, Vanessa. “Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did,” he said. After retiring from the NBA, Bryant dug further into his Hollywood roots, launching the production company, Granity, which focused on projects that blended both sports and entertainment. Much like his basketball career, he quickly rose to the top in the entertainment arena, winning an Academy Award in 2018 for the short film, “Dear Basketball,” directed by Glen Keane, which was based on a poem Bryant wrote. Several documentaries covered Bryant’s life and career, including Spike Lee’s 2009 “Kobe Doin’ Work” and “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” a 2015 Showtime special. Bryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three daughters, Natalia, Bianca and Capri. Gene Maddaus contributed to this report.
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[News](https://variety.com/c/news/) Jan 26, 2020 11:57am PT # Kobe Bryant Dies in Helicopter Crash By [Stuart Oldham](https://variety.com/author/stuart-oldham/) Plus Icon ### [Stuart Oldham](https://variety.com/author/stuart-oldham/) Editor, Variety.com - [Friends and Collaborators Mourn the Loss of Director Lynn Shelton: ‘She Was Only Just Getting Started’](https://variety.com/2020/film/news/lynn-shelton-death-sundance-filmmakers-mark-duplass-mindy-kaling-alison-brie-reese-witherspoon-little-fires-everywhere-kerry-washington-1234608673/) 6 years ago - [Thom Yorke Debuts New Song on ‘The Tonight Show’ (Watch)](https://variety.com/2020/music/news/thom-yorke-new-song-plasticine-figures-video-tonight-show-fallon-radiohead-1234593842/) 6 years ago - [LA County Extends Stay at Home Order to May 15](https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/la-county-extends-stay-at-home-order-to-may-15-1234577492/) 6 years ago [See All](https://variety.com/author/stuart-oldham/) ![Thumbnail of the embedded video](https://source.unsplash.com/random/595x333) [Kobe Bryant](https://variety.com/t/kobe-bryant/), the sports icon who won five NBA championships with the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://variety.com/t/los-angeles-lakers/) and was often compared to Michael Jordan, died Sunday in a helicopter crash. He was 41. Bryant was traveling in his private helicopter when it crashed in the Los Angeles County suburb of Calabasas. Eight other people were killed, with no survivors. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna (“Gigi”) was among the deceased. The chopper was reportedly en route to Gigi’s basketball game in Thousand Oaks. Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the crash. There was extensive fog in the Los Angeles area on Sunday morning. ## Related Stories [![Disclosure Day](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/discolosure-day.jpg?w=250&h=167&crop=1)](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/steven-spielberg-hollywood-original-movies-disclosure-day-cinemacon-1236722625/) ### [Steven Spielberg Warns Hollywood Must Invest in Original Stories or Movies Will 'Run Out of Gas,' Debuts Eerie New 'Disclosure Day' Trailer at CinemaCon](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/steven-spielberg-hollywood-original-movies-disclosure-day-cinemacon-1236722625/) [![Godzilla Minus One](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Godzilla-Minus-One.jpg?w=250&h=167&crop=1)](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/godzilla-minus-zero-trailer-new-york-1236712354/) ### ['Godzilla Minus Zero' Trailer Brings the Kaiju to New York City; Director Reveals First Plot Details and Imax Release](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/godzilla-minus-zero-trailer-new-york-1236712354/) L.A. County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said the accident was first reported at 9:46 a.m. PST. About 56 fire personnel were dispatched to the scene, near the intersection of Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street. The crash sparked a brush fire that spread to about 1/4 acre before firefighters were able to put it out. The firefighters were able to determine that no one survived the crash. Villanueva said that a flight manifest listed eight passengers and one pilot. Officials initially said that five people were killed. Air traffic control audio, posted on LiveATC.net, revealed communications between the pilot and the tower as the helicopter navigated around the Van Nuys airport. The last communication that can be heard is the controller telling the pilot they were “still too low level” to be tracked on the radar. Otherwise, the audio does not indicate anything amiss with the flight. The helicopter had flown from Orange County, near Bryant’s Newport Beach home. First reported by TMZ, news of Bryant’s death sent shock waves throughout the world, with fellow athletes, celebrities and politicians paying tribute to the legendary Laker, known as “The Black Mamba,” while also sending heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their children. “There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of losing my niece Gigi and my brother,” Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s former Lakers teammate posted on Twitter. “I’m sick right now.” Former President Barack Obama, who hosted Bryant and the Lakers at the White House following the team’s 2010 NBA Championship, wrote: “Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.” On Saturday night, current Laker LeBron James passed Bryant as the NBA’s basketball’s third-highest scorer of all-time. In his final message on Twitter, Bryant [sent](https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/1221276426164269056) his congratulations to James following the Lakers’ game in Philadelphia, which also happens to be Bryant’s hometown. Drafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets out of Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia — he would later became the youngest player to play in the NBA — Bryant was traded to the Lakers where he became a fan favorite overnight. He wore both numbers 8 and 24 for the Lakers, the organization where he spent his entire 20-year career. His two jerseys were both retired, an NBA first, following his exit from the league in 2016. Widely considered as one of the greatest players in NBA history, Bryant was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and was elected to the All-Star team eighteen times. He went on to win two gold medals with the USA Men’s Basketball team – in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics and 2012 in London. Alongside O’Neal and coach Phil Jackson, Bryant helped revitalize Hollywood’s favorite sports team in the late 1990s and early 2000s when the Lakers moved from the Inglewood Forum to Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. Bryant’s highest scoring game came in 2002 when he posted 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. It’s the second-highest point total ever for an NBA player behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962. Despite all of the “Ko-Be!” chants and on-court accolades, Bryant was not immune to controversy. In 2003, he was accused of sexually assaulting a hotel employee in Colorado. The case was dropped the following year, and Bryant issued a public apology alongside his wife, Vanessa. “Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did,” he said. After retiring from the NBA, Bryant dug further into his Hollywood roots, launching the production company, Granity, which focused on projects that blended both sports and entertainment. Much like his basketball career, he quickly rose to the top in the entertainment arena, winning an Academy Award in 2018 for the short film, “Dear Basketball,” directed by Glen Keane, which was based on a poem Bryant wrote. Several documentaries covered Bryant’s life and career, including Spike Lee’s 2009 “Kobe Doin’ Work” and “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” a 2015 Showtime special. Bryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three daughters, Natalia, Bianca and Capri. Gene Maddaus contributed to this report. #### Read More About: - [Kobe Bryant,](https://variety.com/t/kobe-bryant/) - [Los Angeles Lakers](https://variety.com/t/los-angeles-lakers/) [Jump to Comments](https://variety.com/2020/biz/news/kobe-bryant-dead-helicopter-crash-lakers-1203480844/#article-comments) ## More from Variety - [![Oz Perkins and Nicolas Cage at “Longlegs” Los Angeles premiere held at the Egyptian Theater on July 8, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/MAB_7177.jpg?w=250&h=167&crop=1)](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/nicolas-cage-longlegs-sequel-osgood-perkins-1236721703/) ### [Nicolas Cage Returning for New ‘Longlegs’ Movie From Osgood Perkins](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/nicolas-cage-longlegs-sequel-osgood-perkins-1236721703/) - [![Lords of War](https://variety.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/Nicholas-Cage-reprises-the-role-of-notorious-arms-dealer-Yuri-Orlov-Credit-Khalil-Nemmaoui.jpg?w=250&h=167&crop=1)](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/nicolas-cage-bill-skarsgard-lords-of-war-acquired-vertical-1236713056/) ### [Nicolas Cage and Bill Skarsgård Sequel ‘Lords of War’ Acquired by Vertical for U.S.](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/nicolas-cage-bill-skarsgard-lords-of-war-acquired-vertical-1236713056/) JavaScript is required to load the comments. 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Readable Markdown	[Kobe Bryant](https://variety.com/t/kobe-bryant/), the sports icon who won five NBA championships with the [Los Angeles Lakers](https://variety.com/t/los-angeles-lakers/) and was often compared to Michael Jordan, died Sunday in a helicopter crash. He was 41. Bryant was traveling in his private helicopter when it crashed in the Los Angeles County suburb of Calabasas. Eight other people were killed, with no survivors. Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter Gianna (“Gigi”) was among the deceased. The chopper was reportedly en route to Gigi’s basketball game in Thousand Oaks. Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the crash. There was extensive fog in the Los Angeles area on Sunday morning. L.A. County Fire Chief Daryl Osby said the accident was first reported at 9:46 a.m. PST. About 56 fire personnel were dispatched to the scene, near the intersection of Las Virgenes Road and Willow Glen Street. The crash sparked a brush fire that spread to about 1/4 acre before firefighters were able to put it out. The firefighters were able to determine that no one survived the crash. Villanueva said that a flight manifest listed eight passengers and one pilot. Officials initially said that five people were killed. Air traffic control audio, posted on LiveATC.net, revealed communications between the pilot and the tower as the helicopter navigated around the Van Nuys airport. The last communication that can be heard is the controller telling the pilot they were “still too low level” to be tracked on the radar. Otherwise, the audio does not indicate anything amiss with the flight. The helicopter had flown from Orange County, near Bryant’s Newport Beach home. First reported by TMZ, news of Bryant’s death sent shock waves throughout the world, with fellow athletes, celebrities and politicians paying tribute to the legendary Laker, known as “The Black Mamba,” while also sending heartfelt condolences to his wife, Vanessa, and their children. “There’s no words to express the pain Im going through with this tragedy of losing my niece Gigi and my brother,” Shaquille O’Neal, Bryant’s former Lakers teammate posted on Twitter. “I’m sick right now.” Former President Barack Obama, who hosted Bryant and the Lakers at the White House following the team’s 2010 NBA Championship, wrote: “Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act. To lose Gianna is even more heartbreaking to us as parents. Michelle and I send love and prayers to Vanessa and the entire Bryant family on an unthinkable day.” On Saturday night, current Laker LeBron James passed Bryant as the NBA’s basketball’s third-highest scorer of all-time. In his final message on Twitter, Bryant [sent](https://twitter.com/kobebryant/status/1221276426164269056) his congratulations to James following the Lakers’ game in Philadelphia, which also happens to be Bryant’s hometown. Drafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets out of Lower Merion High School in Philadelphia — he would later became the youngest player to play in the NBA — Bryant was traded to the Lakers where he became a fan favorite overnight. He wore both numbers 8 and 24 for the Lakers, the organization where he spent his entire 20-year career. His two jerseys were both retired, an NBA first, following his exit from the league in 2016. Widely considered as one of the greatest players in NBA history, Bryant was voted the league’s Most Valuable Player in 2008 and was elected to the All-Star team eighteen times. He went on to win two gold medals with the USA Men’s Basketball team – in Beijing at the 2008 Olympics and 2012 in London. Alongside O’Neal and coach Phil Jackson, Bryant helped revitalize Hollywood’s favorite sports team in the late 1990s and early 2000s when the Lakers moved from the Inglewood Forum to Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles. Bryant’s highest scoring game came in 2002 when he posted 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. It’s the second-highest point total ever for an NBA player behind Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game in 1962. Despite all of the “Ko-Be!” chants and on-court accolades, Bryant was not immune to controversy. In 2003, he was accused of sexually assaulting a hotel employee in Colorado. The case was dropped the following year, and Bryant issued a public apology alongside his wife, Vanessa. “Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did,” he said. After retiring from the NBA, Bryant dug further into his Hollywood roots, launching the production company, Granity, which focused on projects that blended both sports and entertainment. Much like his basketball career, he quickly rose to the top in the entertainment arena, winning an Academy Award in 2018 for the short film, “Dear Basketball,” directed by Glen Keane, which was based on a poem Bryant wrote. Several documentaries covered Bryant’s life and career, including Spike Lee’s 2009 “Kobe Doin’ Work” and “Kobe Bryant’s Muse,” a 2015 Showtime special. Bryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa, and three daughters, Natalia, Bianca and Capri. Gene Maddaus contributed to this report. ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=1429113&fmt=gif)
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