Two people were killed, two others hospitalized, and one person missing after a medical helicopter crashed off Catalina Island near Los Angeles on Wednesday evening, authorities said.
L.A. County Fire Engineer Jonathan Torres confirmed the two fatalities and said two individuals were brought to area hospitals, while a fifth person remains missing.
Those on board included a pilot, a nurse, a patient and two others, reports KTLA.
In a post on X, Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn stated she was told the aircraft went down shortly after taking off from Catalina. It was described as being submerged under 240 feet of water.
Emergency responders received word of the crash shortly before 8 p.m. and deployed alongside the U.S. Coast Guard. The search for the missing person was ongoing through the night.
One survivor was transported to a Los Angeles hospital, where their condition was not immediately known, the station reported.
Officials said the aircraft was submerged in 240 feet (73 meters) of water off Catalina, located about 22 miles (35 kilometers) off mainland Los Angeles County.
The helicopter is believed to be owned by REACH Air Medical Services of Sacramento, California. The aircraft involved was a Eurocopter EC 135 P2.
“We are aware of an incident involving a REACH Air Medical Services helicopter. At this time, we are gathering information and coordinating with emergency responders and authorities. We are unable to provide additional details at this stage and will share more information when it becomes available. Our immediate concern is for the well-being of those involved,” REACH said in a statement.
“It is very early in the investigation, and limited information is available at this time. NTSB investigators are expected to arrive on scene today to begin documenting the site and examining the aircraft once recovery efforts—currently being handled by parties other than the NTSB—are complete. After recovery, the aircraft will be transported to a secure facility for further evaluation.,” the NTSB told KTLA.
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