Two people have died after a medical helicopter plunged into the ocean off Catalina Island, California, on Wednesday night. A search and rescue operation is underway to locate a fifth person who remains missing.
Four people were recovered from the water: two were taken to hospital with injuries, and two were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The department said it received reports of the crash shortly before 8 pm.
Search and rescue continues
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said: "This remains an active scene with search and rescue operations continuing throughout the night."
County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a statement: "I have been informed that a medevac helicopter leaving Catalina Island has crashed shortly after takeoff. LA County Fire, Sheriff, Coast Guard, and Avalon Fire are on the scene. Search and rescue operations are underway and I am praying for everyone who was on board."
Flight details and response
Flight tracking data indicated that a Reach Air Medical Services helicopter took off from Oceanside in San Diego County at 6:40 pm and arrived on Catalina Island at 7:04 pm. Reach confirmed it was aware of the incident but declined to provide additional details, stating that its primary focus was on the welfare of those involved.
"Our immediate concern is for the well-being of those involved," a Reach spokesperson said in a statement to CBS LA. The identities of the victims or the missing person have not been released at this time.
Conditions at the scene
US Coast Guard Cmdr. Mark Leahey told NBC Los Angeles: "Conditions right now are actually calm on scene, so I would call them ideal search conditions. But there is a lot of debris from the crash. There is some fuel in the water also from the helicopter. But our crews train for this, so we’re ready for the response."
