Los Angeles (AFP) - NBA legend Kobe Bryant died on Sunday when a helicopter crashed and burst into flames in suburban Los Angeles.
AFP Sport looks at six other air tragedies which claimed the lives of sporting heroes:
1958: Manchester United
The plane carrying members of Manchester United's 'Busby Babes' crashed in Germany as it returned from a European Cup match in Belgrade. Eight players died following the incident as well as three staff members.
Matty Busby's side went on to win the trophy in 1968 and a passage under United's Old Trafford stadium was named the 'Munich Tunnel' on the 50th anniversary of the accident.