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

A medical transport helicopter crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island, California, on Wednesday night.

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Here are the key details reported on the incident:

• What happened: A Eurocopter EC-135-P2 medical helicopter operated by REACH Air Medical Services had arrived on the island from Oceanside to airlift a patient to the mainland for medical care. Shortly before 8:00 p.m., the aircraft crashed into the ocean shortly after departure, submerging in approximately 240 feet (70 meters) of water.

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• Casualties and rescued crew: There were five individuals aboard. First responders from the Los Angeles County Fire Department quickly reached the scene by boat and pulled four people from the water. Two victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while two survivors were taken to mainland hospitals in stable condition.

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• Search and recovery: The U.S. Coast Guard and local emergency crews deployed boats and submersibles to search for the missing fifth person, believed to be the patient who was on board.

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• Investigation: The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, with plans to recover the aircraft from the ocean floor for inspection.

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