The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for one person after a medevac helicopter carrying five crashed off Catalina Island Wednesday night. Four people were recovered from the water; two were taken to a mainland hospital and two were pronounced dead. The helicopter, a Eurocopter EC 135P2+ (N313RX) operated by Reach Air Medical Services, showed rapid changes in altitude and airspeed before a sudden descent during a mostly dark flight. Multiple agencies, including the Coast Guard and LA County responders, mounted an immediate search-and-rescue response.
Coast Guard Searches for Missing Person After Medevac Helicopter Crash Off Catalina Island — 2 Dead, 2 Hospitalized
Coast Guard Searches for Missing Person After Medevac Helicopter Crash Kills 2
The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing an active search for one person unaccounted for after a medevac helicopter carrying five people crashed shortly after departing Catalina Island on Wednesday night. Four people were recovered from the water; two were transported to a mainland hospital and two were pronounced deceased.
Crash Details
The aircraft, registered N313RX, has been identified as a Eurocopter EC 135P2+ owned by Reach Air Medical Services of Santa Rosa, California. Flight-tracking data indicate the helicopter, operating as Reach Air Medical 16, departed the Oceanside fire department at 6:40 p.m. PDT and arrived at the Pebbly Beach helispot in Avalon on Catalina Island at about 7:03 p.m.
According to public sunset data, sunset occurred at 6:37 p.m. and civil twilight ended near 7:02 p.m., meaning most of the flight after takeoff was conducted in darkness. On the flight’s final recorded segment the helicopter climbed to roughly 1,200 feet with an indicated airspeed near 160 mph, descended to about 900 feet, momentarily leveled, then slowed to about 120 mph before entering a rapid descent.
Search and Rescue Response
Shortly before 8 p.m., multiple agencies responded to reports of the downed aircraft. Responding units included the U.S. Coast Guard, the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the LA County Sheriff’s Department, deploying both boats and aircraft assets such as an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter to conduct search-and-rescue operations.
"Four individuals were recovered from the water," the Coast Guard said in a statement. "Two of the individuals were transferred to a hospital on the mainland and two were pronounced deceased."
Next Steps
Search efforts remain underway for the missing person. Investigators and authorities are expected to examine flight-tracking data, environmental conditions and other available information to determine the circumstances that led to the crash.
Note: This account summarizes official statements and public flight-tracking information reported after the incident.
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