2 dead, 2 hospitalized, 1 missing after Catalina Island helicopter crash, tell me about this news today

A charter helicopter carrying five people crashed into the ocean off the coast of Santa Catalina Island, California. Emergency responders from the U.S. Coast Guard, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and local harbor patrols were dispatched immediately to the scene.

Key details reported regarding the incident:

• Casualties: Two individuals were confirmed dead at the scene.

• Injuries: Two passengers were rescued from the water in critical condition and airlifted to trauma centers on the mainland for emergency care.

• Search Operations: One person remains unaccounted for, prompting an active multi-agency search-and-rescue mission involving dive teams, surface vessels, and aerial sweeps over the debris field.

• Investigation: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated an investigation to determine the cause of the crash, focusing on weather conditions, flight data, and mechanical factors at the time of departure.