Catalina Island helicopter crash victims identified, tell me about this news today

Authorities and family members have identified victims from the Reach Air Medical Services helicopter that crashed off the coast of Catalina Island.

A Eurocopter EC135 medevac helicopter went down into the ocean off Pebbly Beach near Avalon shortly after takeoff while transporting an island resident to the mainland for urgent medical care. The wreckage came to rest roughly 220 feet underwater. Five people were on board; three died and two survived.

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The victims identified so far include:

• Catalina Hernandez (45): The patient being transported for an allergic reaction. She was an island housekeeper and mother of three. Her body was recovered from inside the submerged wreckage by search and dive teams.

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• Jessica Devries (48): A flight nurse with Reach Air Medical Services who died in the crash.

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• The Pilot: A male pilot for Reach Air Medical Services who was also killed in the crash.

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The two survivors, who were rescued from the water and hospitalized in stable condition at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, are:

• The patient’s adult son: He was accompanying his mother on the flight.

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• A male flight medic: The surviving medical crew member aboard.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are actively investigating the cause of the crash.

FLYING Magazine