Helicopter crash off Catalina Island results in two fatalities and one missing person

A medical helicopter transporting a patient crashed off Catalina Island near Los Angeles on Wednesday night, resulting in two fatalities and two individuals hospitalized, according to authorities. Rescuers are continuing their search for a fifth person who was aboard the helicopter and remains missing. Coast Guard Capt. Stacey Crecy stated in a news conference that emergency personnel, including the Coast Guard, local firefighters, and divers from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, worked through the night. "We're still doing an active search for the person who's missing and then in addition to that, the divers and the remote operated vehicle are going to get a look at more of the wreckage and hopefully if there's a sunken fuselage … we're hoping to get a better picture of that this morning," Crecy said. The cause of the crash is currently unclear; the helicopter reportedly went down shortly after takeoff and hit the water a short distance from the island. Authorities are in the process of identifying the victims. Crecy mentioned that the medical aircraft was transporting a patient for additional medical care on the mainland but did not provide further details. Preliminary information from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) indicates that the pilot and one cabin crew member were killed, while another cabin crew member sustained serious injuries and a passenger had minor injuries. This incident follows a recent crash involving a firefighting helicopter in Yosemite National Park that killed two pilots, as well as another news helicopter crash in Los Angeles that resulted in two fatalities. First responders were alerted to the crash shortly before 8 p.m. on Wednesday and managed to rescue four individuals from the water, two of whom were pronounced dead at the scene. The other two were transported to hospitals on the mainland in stable condition, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Firefighters on Catalina Island were able to reach the crash site quickly by boat. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the incident and has identified the helicopter as a Eurocopter EC-135-P2. NTSB staff are expected to arrive at the scene later Thursday, and the aircraft will be transported to a secure facility for evaluation. Authorities reported that the helicopter is submerged in 240 feet (73 meters) of water off Catalina, which is located approximately 22 miles (35 kilometers) from the mainland of Los Angeles County. The helicopter had landed on the island shortly after 7 p.m. following a 24-minute flight from an airport in Oceanside, California, according to flight tracking service Flightradar24. The helicopter was operated by REACH Air Medical Services based in Sacramento, California. The company issued a statement indicating that they are gathering information and coordinating with emergency responders and authorities, expressing condolences to the families and colleagues affected by the incident. They stated that they are focused on supporting their team and those impacted during this difficult time.