Basketball icon Kobe Bryant was killed in a crash of his private helicopter on Sunday in Calabasas, California.
READ: Kobe Bryant Dies in Helicopter Crash (Video)
Pepperdine Graphic, Pepperdine University's student-run newspaper, published a tweet on Sunday that showed what appeared to be an image of the helicopter and smoke in the distance.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said nine people died.
"It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Kobe Bryant and four others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas," Calabasas Mayor Alicia Weintraub said in a press conference.
File: November 16, 1980: Sir Gordon White, Chairman of Hanson International, boarding Air Hanson's Sikorsky S-76 Helicopter at Battersea Heliport, London. Hulton Archive via Getty Images
Bryant's 13-year-old daughter, Gianna "Gigi" Bryant, was also killed in the accident. The helicopter was said to be traveling to Bryant's Mamba Academy in Thousand Oaks for a basketball practice when the crash occurred. The identities of the other three victims was not immediately known.
Bryant's use of the private helicopter became well known as the LA Lakers great used it to beat Los Angeles traffic and even help teammates get to doctor appointments.
According to a GQ profile in 2010, Kobe would use the helicopter to fly from his home in Orange County to Lakers home games and elsewhere. Kobe reportedly took advantage of the helicopter to help stay fit for games:
"But sexy as it might seem, Bryant says the helicopter is just another tool for maintaining his body. It's no different than his weights or his whirlpool tubs or his custom-made Nikes. Given his broken finger, his fragile knees, his sore back and achy feet, not to mention his chronic agita, Bryant can't sit in a car for two hours. The helicopter, therefore, ensures that he gets to Staples Center feeling fresh, that his body is warm and loose and fluid as mercury when he steps onto the court."
Bryant's helicopter was a Sikorsky S-76, a type which has had a a relatively good safety record since its first flight in 1977.
LOOK: Kobe Bryant's last tweet before he died was to congratulate LeBron James on surpassing him for the NBA all-time scoring list
In statements, the Federal Aviation Administration said it would investigate the crash, and the National Transportation Safety Board said it had a team responding to the crash site.
Here is what we know about Bryant's helicopter and the Sikorsky S-76:
Bryant's private helicopter was a Sikorsky S-76, an aircraft type which first flew in 1977.
File: November 16, 1980: Sir Gordon White, Chairman of Hanson International, boarding Air Hanson's Sikorsky S-76 Helicopter at Battersea Heliport, London. Hulton Archive via Getty Images
The S-76 was first designed as a medium helicopter for corporate transportation, especially within the oil industry, where executives were traveling between land and off-shore drilling platforms.
Kalle Parkkinen/Reuters
The first Sikorsky helicopter was designed for commercial use but took design inspiration from the UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter.
Daniel Brown/Business Insider
It's found a niche in numerous roles over the years, including medical transportation.
Danny Johnston/Associated Press
The helicopter Bryant was in was a S-76B variant, which was first introduced in 1987.
A Sikorsky S-76B helicopter owned by the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR) in Germany. Holger Hollemann/picture alliance/Getty Images
The S-76 features twin turboshaft engines which drive one four-bladed main rotor and a four-bladed tail rotor.
Associated Press
It's relatively larger and more complex than many other civilian helicopters — which has contributed to a strong safety record over its 40-plus years in service.
Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
Its safety record has been largely attributed to its twin-turbine design, along with more rigorous training standards than some other civilian models, and the fact that it's frequently flown by two pilots, unlike most light helicopters.
Business Wire via Getty Images. Source: FlightSafety International
Still, there have been several prolific incidents, most recently a 2017 crash in Turkey, which appeared to be caused by a combination of poor visibility and pilot error.
Investigation team is seen at the crash scene after an helicopter crashes in Istanbul's Buyukcekmece, Turkey on March 10, 2017. Metin Pala/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
The S-76 has been a successful helicopter for corporate and VIP transportation. Its large cabin is especially geared towards comfortable configurations, and coupled with its relative safety and strong performance parameters. Even Queen Elizabeth II has been flown in a Sikorsky S-76.
Stefan Rousseau/Reuters
It was not immediately clear what caused Bryant's helicopter to crash.
Gene Blevins/Reuters
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