Rescue effort underway after Reach Air Medical helicopter crash off Catalina
Four rescued from Reach Air Medical helicopter crash off Catalina; one person missing.
Event / Disaster
Reach Air Medical Helicopter Crash Catalina
A Reach Air Medical Services medevac helicopter crashed off Catalina Island, California on October 1, 2026 at 7:46 p.m. The aircraft was carrying five people. Four were rescued and transported to hospitals; one person remains missing. Multiple emergency agencies including LA County Fire, Sheriff, U.S. Coast Guard, and Avalon Fire responded to the incident.
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2026-10-01 to 2026-10-31 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 1 Oct, 10:17 UTC
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What happened
Multiple agencies respond to helicopter crash off Catalina Island
The Los Angeles County Fire Department, LA County Sheriff's Department, U.S. Coast Guard, and Avalon Fire responded to the helicopter crash. The fire department dispatched helicopters and divers around 7:50 p.m. after receiving reports of the crash. A Coast Guard MH-60 helicopter also responded to the emergency.
Five people aboard helicopter at time of crash off Catalina Island
Five people were aboard the Reach Air Medical Services helicopter at the time of the crash off Catalina Island. The aircraft had departed from Oceanside in San Diego County at 6:40 p.m. and landed on Catalina Island at 7:04 p.m. before the crash occurred shortly after takeoff.
Rescued helicopter crash victims transported to hospitals
Four people rescued from the crashed helicopter were transported to hospitals. Two were transported to a hospital on Catalina Island in stable condition, while two others were transported to the Ronald Reagan Medical Center at UCLA in unknown condition.
Reach Air Medical Services medevac helicopter crashes off Catalina Island
A Reach Air Medical Services medevac helicopter crashed into the ocean off Catalina Island, California on Wednesday night at approximately 7:46 p.m. shortly after departing from Avalon. The aircraft climbed to approximately 175 feet before descending, with its signal disappearing about eight seconds after takeoff. The crash occurred near Pebbly Beach on the island.
Four people rescued from crashed helicopter; one remains missing
Four of the five people aboard the crashed helicopter were rescued. Three people were rescued by boat crews, while two others were spotted by the U.S. Coast Guard. One person remained missing as of late Wednesday night, with a dive team conducting search operations to locate them.
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