Basketball legend Kobe Bryant was killed alongside his daughter Gianna, 13, in a helicopter crash in California on Sunday morning at the age of 41.

The L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said nine people in total lost their lives when the aircraft crashed and burst into flames Sunday morning (Sunday night in Nigeria) amid foggy conditions in the hills above Calabasas.

The Philadelphia native spent his entire 20-year career with Los Angeles Lakers, winning five NBA championships and 18 All-Star titles before he retired in 2016. 

He was the first guard in NBA history to play at least 20 seasons.

TMZ were first to report about the ugly incident which claimed Bryant’s life.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the crash occurred before 10 a.m. and the fire made it difficult for firefighters and emergency personnel to get to the aircraft.

The 18–time All-Star and 11-time All-NBA first Team led the Lakers to five NBA championships and scored 33,643 points in his 20-year NBA career. He retired from the Lakers after the 2015-16 season after spending his entire career with the franchise.

Bryant is survived by his wife, Vanessa and his children Natalia and Bianca and newborn Capri.