A medical helicopter transporting a patient off Catalina Island for further medical care on the mainland crashed Wednesday night, killing two people, hospitalizing two others, and leaving a fifth person missing, authorities reported Thursday.
Rescuers continued an active search Thursday for the missing individual who was aboard the aircraft. Emergency personnel, including the Coast Guard, area firefighters, and divers with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, worked through the night following the incident. Coast Guard Capt. Stacey Crecy stated at a news conference that search efforts for the missing person were ongoing, and divers with a remote operated vehicle were scheduled to examine the wreckage, hoping to get a better picture of a potential "sunken fuselage" Thursday morning.
The cause of the crash was not immediately clear. Captain Crecy noted the helicopter went down a short distance from the island shortly after takeoff and impacted the water. The aircraft, identified by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) as a Eurocopter EC-135-P2, was submerged in 240 feet of water off Catalina, which is located approximately 22 miles from the mainland.
Preliminary information released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicated that the pilot and a cabin crew member were killed in the crash. Another cabin crew member sustained serious injuries, while a passenger suffered minor injuries, according to the FAA. First responders were called to the scene shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday and successfully pulled four people from the water. Two were pronounced dead at the scene, and two, reported to be in stable condition, were subsequently transported to hospitals on the mainland, the Los Angeles County Fire Department confirmed. Firefighters based on the island were able to reach the scene quickly by boat.
The NTSB is investigating the crash, and its staff were expected to arrive on the scene later Thursday. The board spokesperson stated that the aircraft would be brought to a secure facility for further evaluation once recovered. Authorities were working on identifying the victims as of Thursday.
The helicopter, operated by REACH Air Medical Services of Sacramento, California, had landed on Catalina Island shortly after 7 p.m. Wednesday, following a 24-minute flight from an airport in Oceanside, California, according to flight tracking service Flightradar24.
REACH Air Medical Services released a statement saying, "At this time, we are gathering information and coordinating with emergency responders and authorities." The company expressed its thoughts for the families, loved ones, and colleagues affected by the tragedy, adding that it was focused on supporting its team and everyone impacted. Out of respect for those involved and the ongoing emergency response, the company stated it was unable to share additional details.
