Two dead and one missing as medical helicopter crashes off Catalina Island

A medical helicopter crashed into the sea off Catalina Island near Los Angeles on Wednesday night, killing two people and leaving one missing, authorities said.

L.A. County Fire Engineer Jonathan Torres confirmed the two deaths and said two others were transported to hospitals on the mainland, where they were in stable condition. A fifth person was still missing, with search-and-rescue operations under way.

The L.A. County Fire Department, its fire and lifeguard units, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Avalon Fire and the US Coast Guard responded to reports of the crash at around 7.53pm local time (0253 GMT Thursday).

The helicopter came down in water about 240 feet (73 metres) deep off Catalina, roughly 22 miles (35 kilometres) off the mainland, authorities said.

The aircraft was believed to be owned by REACH Air Medical Services of Sacramento, California, KTLA-TV reported, and the company told KABC that one of its helicopters was involved in the incident.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a post on X that she had been told the medevac helicopter crashed shortly after takeoff from Catalina. “Search and rescue operations are underway, and I am praying for everyone who was on board,” she wrote.

No cause for the crash was given.

Sources

• Associated Press via WVLT — 2 dead confirmed by L.A. County Fire Engineer Jonathan Torres; 2 transported to local hospitals; 5th missing; helicopter submerged in 240 feet of water off Catalina, 22 miles off mainland; believed owned by REACH Air Medical Services of Sacramento
• Associated Press via CNN — same core figures; Hahn X post; reports shortly before 8 p.m.; US Coast Guard response
• AFP via Free Malaysia Today — 7.53pm (0253 GMT Thursday); four of five found; two transported in stable condition; REACH told KABC one of its helicopters was involved; Hahn’s “praying for everyone who was on board” quote