Updated

Updated · Fox News · Oct 1

Medevac Helicopter Crashes Off Catalina Island, Leaving 1 Missing and 4 Hospitalized

Updated

Updated · Fox News · Oct 1

Medevac Helicopter Crashes Off Catalina Island, Leaving 1 Missing and 4 Hospitalized

Q: What catastrophic failure caused a vital medevac helicopter to plunge into the ocean during perfectly calm conditions off Catalina Island?

It is not yet known what catastrophic failure caused the REACH Air Medical Services helicopter to crash off Catalina Island. Officials said the aircraft went down shortly after takeoff in calm conditions, but no agency has identified a mechanical breakup, engine failure, rotor problem, or any other specific cause. What is established is that the helicopter departed Catalina and crashed within moments near Pebbly Beach/Avalon. Flight-tracking data cited in local reporting indicated it climbed only briefly—reportedly to about 175 feet—before descending, with its signal disappearing seconds later. Coast Guard officials described the weather and sea state as calm, which makes environmental conditions a less obvious immediate factor, though that does not rule out visibility, pilot workload, or other operational issues. Investigators will likely focus on whether the helicopter suffered a power loss, flight-control malfunction, tail-rotor or main-rotor problem, or another sudden onboard emergency. Debris and fuel were seen in the water, but that alone does not establish an in-flight breakup or pinpoint the initiating failure. The National Transportation Safety Board is expected to lead the investigation, and any firm answer will depend on wreckage recovery, maintenance records, flight data, radio communications, and witness or video evidence. For now, the cause remains under investigation, and any claim about a specific “catastrophic failure” would be speculative.

3 articles · Updated · Fox News · Oct 1

Five people were aboard when a Reach Air Medical Services medevac helicopter went down in the water off Catalina Island shortly after 8 p.m. Wednesday; one remained missing late that night.
Four survivors were hospitalized—two in stable condition and two in unknown condition—with two taken to a hospital on Catalina Island and two flown to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.
Los Angeles County Fire, Sheriff, Coast Guard and Avalon Fire launched a search-and-rescue response, sending helicopters and divers to the crash site.
Flight-tracking data showed the helicopter left Oceanside at 6:40 p.m. and landed on Catalina at 7:04 p.m. before crashing after takeoff; officials said its flight plan was still unclear.