A medical helicopter has crashed into the Pacific Ocean shortly after taking off from California’s Catalina Island, leaving two people dead, two others hospitalised and another person missing.
The incident occurred off the coast near Avalon on Wednesday evening, shortly after the aircraft departed the island for the mainland. Five people were reportedly on board the helicopter at the time of the crash.
Emergency responders were alerted at about 7:53 p.m. local time, triggering a major search-and-rescue operation involving the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department, U.S. Coast Guard and Avalon Fire Department.
Rescue teams recovered four people from the crash site. Two were pronounced dead, while two others were taken to hospitals on the mainland. The fifth person remained unaccounted for as the search operation continued.
The helicopter was reportedly operated by REACH Air Medical Services. Authorities said the aircraft went down in waters near Catalina Island and was later found submerged at a depth of about 240 feet.
The cause of the crash has not been established, with investigators expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the aircraft’s departure and subsequent plunge into the water.
The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into the crash, while emergency crews continued efforts to locate the missing person and secure the crash site.
Catalina Island, a popular tourist destination, lies about 22 miles off the Los Angeles County mainland. The crash has prompted a coordinated response from several emergency agencies as authorities work to account for everyone who was aboard.
The latest incident also draws attention to REACH Air Medical Services, after one of the company’s helicopters crashed onto a California highway in October 2025, critically injuring all three people on board. One of those injured later died.
