2 Dead, 1 Missing After Medical Helicopter Crashes Off Catalina Island
Two people were killed, two were injured and one person remains missing after a medical helicopter crashed into the ocean off Catalina Island on Wednesday night, officials said.
The REACH Air Medical Services helicopter went down shortly after takeoff near Pebbly Beach, about a mile from the town of Avalon. Five people were believed to be on board.
Crash Shortly After Takeoff
The Los Angeles County Fire Department responded to the crash at 7:53 p.m. The aircraft, an Airbus H135 (formerly the Eurocopter EC135), went into the water near the island's helipad, according to UPI.
Flight tracking data showed the helicopter left Oceanside in San Diego County at 6:40 p.m. and landed on Catalina Island at 7:04 p.m. It crashed less than an hour later while leaving the island. The fire department said the helicopter's flight plan was unclear.
The wreckage sank in roughly 240 feet of water.
Victims and Survivors
Rescuers pulled four people from the aircraft and the water. Two were pronounced dead at the scene.
Two survivors were hospitalized in stable condition. Two of the four people rescued were taken to a hospital on Catalina Island, and two were taken to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center on the mainland, according to Fox News.
Authorities have not released the names of those on board or said whether they were crew members, a patient or others. Medical helicopters typically carry a pilot, flight nurse and paramedic along with any patient.
Search Continues for Missing Person
Crews searched through the night and into Thursday for the fifth person.
"This remains an active scene with search-and-rescue operations continuing throughout the night," the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
The fire department was joined by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the U.S. Coast Guard, Avalon Fire, lifeguards and a dive team. Rescuers used helicopters and divers in the search.
"I have been informed that a medevac helicopter leaving Catalina Island has crashed shortly after takeoff," said Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose district includes Catalina, according to NBC Los Angeles. "Search and rescue operations are underway and I am praying for everyone who was on board."
Investigation Underway
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash. Authorities have not said what may have caused the helicopter to go down.
REACH Air Medical Services, part of Global Medical Response, confirmed one of its helicopters was involved.
"Our immediate concern is for the well-being of those involved," the company said, adding that it was coordinating with emergency responders and authorities.
A String of Helicopter Crashes
The Catalina crash is the latest in a series of deadly helicopter accidents this year. Earlier this month, an NBC4 news helicopter crashed in the Chatsworth area of Los Angeles, killing a reporter, the pilot and a person on the ground.
In August, a pilot was killed in a midair collision between a helicopter and a small plane at an airport in Pennsylvania. In June, musician Oliver Tree died when two helicopters collided over Rio de Janeiro, and in March, three people died in a tour helicopter crash on Kauai.
Catalina Island sits about 22 miles off the Southern California coast. Medical helicopters are often used to fly patients from the island to mainland hospitals for emergency care.
The island has seen deadly air crashes before. In October 2024, five people were killed when a small plane crashed shortly after taking off from Catalina's airport.
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