At least seven killed in Egypt helicopter crash
At least seven people have died after a helicopter belonging to an international peacekeeping force crashed in Egypt.
Five Americans died in the crash, an Israeli official said. The other victims were a French national and a Czech national and all were members of the military.
One survivor was flown to the resort of Eilat, Israel, from where he was then taken by an Israeli helicopter to a hospital further north, sources said.
The official said Israel initially dispatched a helicopter to rescue the wounded, but called off the mission after the deaths were confirmed.
The aircraft, a UH-60 Black Hawk, was on a reconnaissance mission and crashed near the island of Tiran, in Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula, apparently because of a technical failure, the Egyptian official said.
Both Israeli and Egyptian officials said it appeared to have been an accident and there were no signs of the aircraft being attacked.
Islamic militant groups affiliated with the Islamic State group are known to be active in Sinai.
The Multinational Force and Observers (MFO) office in Israel confirmed there had been an accident and an investigation was underway but did not provide further details.
MFO is a multinational organisation that monitors the 40-year-old peace agreement between Israel and Egypt.
Its responsibilities include monitoring troop levels along the border and ensuring the freedom of navigation through the Strait of Tiran.
Thirteen countries contribute troops to the mission, with the United States making up the largest contingent.
According to its website, the MFO has 1,154 military personnel from the United States and 12 other countries covering an area of more than 3,860 square miles (10,000 square km) in the Sinai.
Some 452 of the personnel are American.
Courtesy of Sky News
Update: Kobe Bryant: NBA legend and teenage daughter killed in helicopter crash #KobeBryant #nba #HelicopterCrash
Kobe Bryant only ever played for the Los Angeles Lakers
NBA legend Kobe Bryant has been killed in a helicopter crash along with his teenage daughter – according to US media reports.
The 41-year-old died after the aircraft came down in California on Sunday morning, the City of Calabasas said in a tweet.
It posted: “It is with great sadness that we learn of the death of Kobe Bryant and four others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas.
“The aircraft went down in a remote field off Las Virgenes around 10:00 this morning. Nobody on the ground was hurt. The FAA and NTSB are investigating”.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff tweeted to say that five people were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas and that there were no survivors.
Bryant’s 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, was also on the helicopter, according to US reports.
A teammate from the teenager’s basketball team, a parent of the teammate, and the pilot were also killed, NBC News said.
The sheriff’s department also posted pictures of the scene as smoke could be seen emerging from the brush in a ravine.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating what happened.
Bryant, who was born in Philadelphia in 1978, was drafted at number 13 by the Charlotte Hornets in 1996, but was immediately traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The 18-time NBA All-Star won five championships and became one of the greatest basketball players of his generation during a 20-year career spent entirely with the Lakers.
They retired both of his shirt numbers – eight and 24 – in a ceremony in December 2017.
Then-franchise president Magic Johnson said: “We’re here to celebrate the greatest who has ever worn the purple and gold.”
He retired in 2016 as the third-leading scorer in NBA history and held that spot until Saturday night, when the Lakers’ LeBron James passed him for third place during a game in Philadelphia, Bryant’s hometown.
In his last tweet, Bryant said: “Continuing to move the game forward (at) KingJames. Much respect my brother”.
Courtesy of Sky News
Kobe Bryant: Retired NBA legend killed in helicopter crash #KobeBryant #nba #HelicopterCrash
Kobe Bryant only ever played for the Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles County Sheriff tweeted to say that five people were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas and that there were no survivors.
The sherriff’s department said the emergency services put out the flames of the crash site, and posted a picture of a fire truck and smoke emerging from the brush in a ravine.
Courtesy of Sky News
At least five killed in horror collision between #helicopter and light #aircraft in #Majorca
Credit: Twitter/@iffbaleares
A light aircraft and a helicopter have collided in a horror smash in Majorca’s tourist hotspot killing at least five people.
Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha
Our Thoughts and Prayers Are With Leicester City owner Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha
Please Donate To Support My Work
Earth Extremities 
Comments