CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- The State of Illinois once owned the helicopter that crashed Sunday in California killing Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, and seven others.
The chopper was a Sikorsky S-76B and was built in 1991, according to the Federal Aviation Administration's aircraft registry.
From 2007-2015, the helicopter, with tail number designation N76ILL, had been used to shuttle Illinois governors and other state officials, according to helicopter information database Helis.
In 2015, Governor Rauner had the helicopter and four other surplus aircrafts put up for auction. They sold for a total of $2.5 million.
The helicopter in the Kobe Bryant crash sold for more than $500,000 to Island Express Holdings in Van Nuy, California. The helicopter was repainted and re-registered as N72EX, which was the aircraft that reportedly crashed Sunday morning in Calabasas, California, killing Kobe Bryant, his 13-year-old daughter, and seven people on board.
Meanwhile, despite there being no Chicago Bulls game on Sunday, the outside of the United Center displayed a picture of Kobe Bryant in his Lakers' uniform. The Navy Pier Ferris Wheel was also lit up in purple and gold, the Lakes' colors.
"Words can't describe the pain I am feeling. I loved Kobe — he was like a little brother to me," retired NBA great Michael Jordan said. "We used to talk often, and I will miss those conversations very much. He was a fierce competitor, one of the greats of the game and a creative force."
Bryant, 41, played for the Los Angeles Lakers from 1996 to 2016. He won five NBA championships, the Most Valuable Player award in 2008, and appeared in 18 all-star games.
One of his four daughters, Gianna, 13, was also killed in Sunday's crash. Bryant also leaves behind his wife of 18 years, Vanessa and and three daughters Natalia, Bianka and Capri, who was born in July 2019.
