A medevac helicopter went down into the ocean near Catalina Island in California on Wednesday evening. Out of the five individuals onboard, one is currently reported missing, while the other four were taken to local hospitals.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department received reports of the crash just before 8 p.m. and began search and rescue efforts almost immediately, sending helicopters and divers to the scene.
The U.S. Coast Guard was also involved in the response. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn shared on X that a medevac helicopter had crashed shortly after taking off from Catalina Island. She indicated that emergency services, including the Fire Department and Coast Guard, were on-site and that she was praying for everyone aboard.
As of late Wednesday, at least one person from the helicopter crew was still unaccounted for. Two individuals were reported to be in stable condition, while the status of the other two was unclear, as reported by KTLA.
The Sheriff’s Department stated that two of the injured were taken to a hospital on Catalina Island, while the remaining two were moved to Ronald Reagan Medical Center at UCLA. According to reports, the flight plan for the helicopter was not immediately clear, and it was confirmed that the helicopter belonged to Reach Air Medical Services.
Flight tracking information indicated that the helicopter had taken off from Oceanside in San Diego County around 6:40 p.m. and landed on Catalina Island by 7:04 p.m. Although Reach is aware of the incident, they noted that they couldn’t share any further details at this time, emphasizing, “Our immediate concern is for the well-being of those involved.”
