A medical helicopter transporting a patient crashed off Catalina Island near Los Angeles, killing two people and leaving two hospitalized, authorities said Thursday.
Rescuers continued searching Thursday for a fifth person who was aboard the aircraft and went missing after the Wednesday night crash.
The Coast Guard, area firefighters and divers with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department were among emergency personnel who worked through the night, Coast Guard Capt. Stacey Crecy said at a news conference.
“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 was not immediately clear. Crecy said the helicopter went down shortly after takeoff and hit the water a short distance from the island.
Authorities were working on identifying the victims, she said.
“We believe that the medical aircraft was transporting a person off the island for additional medical care on the mainland,” Crecy said, adding that she did not have more information on the transport or the patient.
According to preliminary information released by the Federal Aviation Administration, the pilot and a cabin crew member were killed. Another cabin crew member was seriously injured and a passenger had minor injuries, the FAA said.
The crash came 11 days after a firefighting helicopter went down and killed two pilots in Yosemite National Park in California, and two weeks after a news helicopter crashed in Los Angeles, killing two people.
First responders were called to the crash shortly before 8 p.m. Wednesday and pulled four people from the water. Two were pronounced dead at the scene, and two, in stable condition, were brought to hospitals on the mainland, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.
Firefighters on the island were able to get to the scene quickly by boat, Crecy said.
The National Transportation Safety Board said it is investigating and identified the helicopter as a Eurocopter EC-135-P2. NTSB staff were expected to arrive on the scene later Thursday. The aircraft will be brought to a secure facility for evaluation, a board spokesperson said.
Authorities said the helicopter was submerged in 240 feet (73 meters) of water off Catalina, which is located about 22 miles (35 kilometers) off the mainland of Los Angeles County.
The helicopter landed on the island shortly after 7 p.m., following a 24-minute flight from an airport in Oceanside, California, according to the flight tracking service Flightradar24.
The helicopter was operated by REACH Air Medical Services of Sacramento, California.
“At this time, we are gathering information and coordinating with emergency responders and authorities,” the company said in a statement. “Our thoughts are with the families, loved ones and colleagues affected by this tragedy. We are focused on supporting our team and everyone impacted during this incredibly difficult time.”
The company said it was unable to share additional details, out of respect for the people involved and the ongoing emergency response.
