Two dead, two hurt, one missing after medical helicopter crashes off Catalina Island

A medical helicopter flying for REACH Air Medical Services crashed into the sea shortly after leaving Catalina Island on Wednesday evening. Two people aboard died. Two others were taken to hospitals on the mainland, and a fifth person remained unaccounted for Thursday morning as search teams worked the water near Avalon.

Emergency crews pulled four people from the ocean. Two were declared dead at the scene, and the other two were in stable condition at mainland hospitals. Los Angeles County's fire department sent personnel to the area after word of the crash arrived shortly before 8 p.m. The Coast Guard, the county sheriff's department and the Avalon fire department joined the response.

County Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a social media post Wednesday evening that the accident had occurred and that multiple agencies were searching for those on board.

The NTSB identified the helicopter as a Eurocopter EC135 P2 and said it has opened an investigation. According to authorities, the wreckage lies in roughly 240 feet of water off the island.

A company spokesperson said the operator knew of the incident and was gathering information while coordinating with emergency responders and authorities. The spokesperson declined to give further details at that point, saying the immediate priority was the people involved.

A second REACH helicopter was involved in a different crash on a Sacramento freeway in October 2025. All three crew members were critically injured.