The fire also included magnesium, which is very hard for firefighters to extinguish because magnesium reacts with oxygen and water, he said.

"We know there are many questions, unfortunately the investigation will be lengthy, and it will take a great deal of time to get those answers," Sergeant Benjamin of the Sheriff's Information Bureau tweeted.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash, and the Los Angeles County coroner's office is working on retrieving the bodies and identifying the victims.

According to Los Angeles Times, Bryant's daughter Gianna Bryant, 13, was also on board and died. Bryant was on his way to a travel basketball game with his daughter when the helicopter crashed. Those aboard the helicopter also included another player and parent.

"A S-76 helicopter crashed this morning under unknown circumstances near Calabasas, Calif. Local authorities say that five people were on board. Please check with local authorities for more information on the condition of the occupants," the FAA said in its statement.

The helicopter, built in 1991, departed John Wayne Airport at 9:06 a.m. Sunday, passed over Boyle Heights, near Dodger Stadium, and circled over Glendale during the flight, said Los Angeles Times, citing publicly available flight records.

"Kobe was a legend on the court and just getting started in what would have been just as meaningful a second act," former U.S. President Barack Obama tweeted.

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