Los Angeles, California – A medical helicopter crashed into the sea off the coast of Los Angeles, California on Wednesday, leaving two people dead, two injured and one missing, local authorities told US media.
LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn said that "a medevac helicopter leaving Catalina Island has crashed shortly after takeoff."
"Search and rescue operations are underway, and I am praying for everyone who was on board," Hahn wrote on X.
A tourist getaway, Santa Catalina Island sits off the coast of southern California, approximately 22 miles away from the Los Angeles harbor area.
The Fire Department and other local authorities "responded to a downed helicopter departing Catalina Island and bound for the mainland" at around 7:53 PM, LA County Fire Engineer Jonathan Torres told news station KTLA.
"Of the onboard patients, four of the five have been found. There is still one outstanding. Two were transported to local area hospitals on the mainland in stable condition. We can confirm there are two deceased at the scene."
Search and rescue operations were ongoing, Torres said.
REACH Air Medical Services told local news station KABC that one of their helicopters was involved in the incident. AFP has contacted REACH for comment.
In October 2025, a REACH medical helicopter crashed onto a California highway. All three people aboard were critically wounded; one person later died of her injuries.