Nine people were on board when the helicopter carrying Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter crashed — no one survived
It’s been a heartbreaking night and morning as details continue to emerge in the tragic helicopter crash that took the lives of NBA great Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people. Their identities have all been confirmed, and each leaves behind devastated family and friends.
Orange Coast College (OCC) baseball coach John Altobelli, his wife, Keri, and daughter, Alyssa, were all on board at the time of the crash. They leave behind two other children, a son and daughter. Alyssa played basketball with Gianna and the helicopter was headed to one of their team’s games before it crashed.
It is with a shattered heart that we announce the passing of longtime head baseball coach John Altobelli, who died on Sunday in a helicopter crash, along with his wife, Keri and youngest daughter, Alyssa. https://t.co/3fjndZDzXD pic.twitter.com/cWFch9H4SV
— OCC Athletics (@OCCAthletics) January 27, 2020
Incredible sadness in So Cal & beyond over the loss of the Altobelli’s-onboard the chopper w #kobebryant. 13 yo Alyssa was a player on the Mambas. All 8 passengers were from #OrangeCounty headed to girls basketball tourney @cbsla #cbsla @orangecoast pic.twitter.com/L7sMzEew1G
— michele gile (@CBSmichelegile) January 27, 2020
The OCC community is mourning Coach Altobelli, who would’ve begun his 28th season just this week.
The baseball field today at Orange Coast College where John Altobelli would have started his 28th season as head coach Tuesday. Altobelli was on the helicopter with Kobe Bryant this morning #Kobe pic.twitter.com/v7CSSBj3Za
— Steve Fryer (@SteveFryer) January 26, 2020
3 victims of #chopper crash who died along w/ #Kobe per family were John Altobelli head coach Orange Coast College baseball, wife Keri & 13 year old daughter Alyssa a basketball player for #mamba. They were headed to a tourney in Thousand Oaks @cbsla #cbsn pic.twitter.com/ur2nL1HYFr
— michele gile (@CBSmichelegile) January 27, 2020
“It’s hard to put into words what this loss means to the college and the athletics department,” OCC Athletics Director Jason Kehler said in a statement obtained by CNN. “John was a tremendous coach and an even better friend. Beyond that, he was an amazing mentor to all of the students and athletes that he taught and coached. He treated them all like family and his impact will live on forever.”
Christina Mauser, an assistant girls basketball coach at a K-8 private school in Orange County, was also among the victims. Her husband Matt took to Facebook with a heartbreaking statement.
“My kids and I are devastated,” he wrote.”We lost our beautiful wife and mom today in a helicopter crash. Please respect our privacy. Thank you for all the well wishes they mean so much.”
Sarah Chester and her daughter Payton were passengers as well. Todd Schmidt, principal at the elementary school Payton once attended, released a statement about the grief he’s feeling at their untimely deaths. “While the world mourns the loss of a dynamic athlete and humanitarian, I mourn the loss of two people just as important…their impact was just as meaningful, their loss will be just as keenly felt, and our hearts are just as broken.”
In addition to Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, @CBSNews has identified the other victims of the deadly helicopter crash in California:
John Altobelli
Keri Altobelli
Alyssa Altobelli
Sarah Chester
Payton Chester
Ara Zobayan
Christina Mauserhttps://t.co/o42tVC5NRn pic.twitter.com/EKadKjcNPu— CBS This Morning (@CBSThisMorning) January 27, 2020
Pilot Ara Zobayan also died. He is being remembered as a skilled pilot who taught others to fly and “was very much loved in the aviation community.”
Friends have identified the pilot as
Ara Zobayan. He taught aspiring heli pilots to fly and was very much loved in the aviation community. They wrote “rest easy as you take your final flight to heaven.”@KTLA #KobeBryant pic.twitter.com/8pQh9eNJTk— Christina Pascucci (@ChristinaKTLA) January 27, 2020
Bryant and his daughter, by all accounts, were close and enjoyed basketball together. A viral moment just last month captured the father and daughter having a little breakdown of the game.
Last November, Kobe shared video of Gianna playing against Alyssa Altobelli, noting both Altobelli’s skill at defense and giving Gigi a nod for successful fade. These were talented young women with undoubtedly bright futures, which only adds to the colossal heartbreak being felt all over the world today.
