A medical helicopter carrying five people crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island on Wednesday evening, killing two people, hospitalising two others and leaving a fifth person unaccounted for, local authorities said.The Airbus H-135 aircraft, registered to REACH Air Medical Services according to Federal Aviation Administration records, went down in the water near Pebbly Beach shortly after taking off from the island at about 7:50 pm local time on September 30. The helicopter was bound for the Southern California mainland.
Of the five people on board, four were recovered from the water, the US Coast Guard said. Two were pronounced dead at the scene, while the other two were taken to hospitals on the mainland in stable condition. Search and rescue operations involving the Coast Guard, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and sheriff's deputies continued into Thursday for the missing person.
Investigation under way, identities not released
A preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board described the two people killed as crew members, with a third crew member seriously hurt. One passenger suffered minor injuries, and the missing person was listed as a passenger. The identities of those on board had not been released.
REACH Air Medical Services confirmed one of its helicopters was involved and said it was coordinating with authorities. "Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones and colleagues affected by this tragedy," the company said in a statement, adding that it would share no further details out of respect for the ongoing response.
The NTSB is leading the investigation, with the FAA also involved. No cause for the crash has been established, and authorities said no further details were available as the search continued.
Sources:
Medical helicopter crashes off California coast, 2 dead and 1 missing — Economic Times (with AFP inputs)
2 dead, 2 injured, 1 missing after Catalina medical helicopter crash — Desert Sun
Medical helicopter crash in California kills 2 — Free Malaysia Today