Two dead and one missing after medical helicopter crashes off California's Catalina Island

Crash off Pebbly Beach

A medical transport helicopter carrying five occupants crashed into the Pacific Ocean just off Santa Catalina Island on Wednesday evening, leaving two people dead, two hospitalized, and one missing. Emergency dispatchers received the initial emergency alerts between 19:40 and 19:50 local time, moments after the aircraft lifted off from the island. The helicopter went down roughly a couple hundred yards off the shoreline of Pebbly Beach. Santa Catalina Island, situated approximately 20 to 22 miles (35 kilometers) southwest of the Los Angeles County mainland, routinely relies on aerial medevac flights for emergency patient transfers. According to local reporting, the five individuals aboard included a pilot, a flight nurse, a patient requiring additional care on the mainland, and two other individuals.

Emergency search and rescue operation

The Los Angeles County Fire Department, the U.S. Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles and Long Beach command center, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and municipal lifeguards launched a coordinated emergency response. Fire department personnel coordinated the dispatch of paramedics, water rescue teams, and support aircraft. Rescuers pulled four occupants from the water shortly after arriving at the crash zone. Medical personnel pronounced two of the occupants dead at the scene, while two survivors were transported in stable condition to regional hospitals on the mainland. L.A. County Fire Engineer Jonathan Torres confirmed the casualties and noted that emergency teams maintained an active perimeter around the site.

This remains an active scene with search and rescue operations continuing throughout the night.

Deep-water recovery and aircraft details

Search operations for the fifth occupant continued through Wednesday night and into Thursday morning. Coast Guard spokesman Tyler Robertson confirmed by telephone that the helicopter was located approximately 250 feet (about 73 to 76 meters) underwater. To inspect the submerged site, county sheriff and fire agencies deployed specialized dive units along with an underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The Coast Guard deployed an aerial helicopter and a maritime response boat to maintain surface coverage. The aircraft was identified as an Airbus H135 (a Eurocopter EC 135 P2), a twin-engine light utility helicopter standard in medical evacuation operations. Records indicated the aircraft was operated by REACH Air Medical Services, an emergency medical transport provider based in Sacramento, California.

Federal investigation and official response

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated an investigation to determine the factors that led to the crash. NTSB officials confirmed that investigators were scheduled to arrive at the site on Thursday to begin documenting physical evidence. The agency stated that once external search and recovery teams retrieve the submerged fuselage, the aircraft will be transported to a secure facility for detailed engineering evaluation. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn stated in a public post that the evacuation helicopter went down shortly after takeoff and that emergency teams were working continuously. REACH Air Medical Services stated that it was coordinating directly with emergency authorities and responders while gathering operational data.

Our immediate concern is for the well-being of those involved.