A REACH Air Medical Services helicopter crashed into the ocean shortly after departing California's Catalina Island, killing two people and leaving another missing as of October 1, 2026. The incident occurred shortly before 20:00 local time on September 30 near Pebbly Beach, outside Avalon.
The helicopter was carrying five people on a medical transport flight to Los Angeles. Rescuers recovered four people from the water; two were pronounced dead at the scene, and two others were taken to mainland hospitals in stable condition, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The missing person was the patient being transported from the island, said Coast Guard Cmdr. Mark Leahy.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) identified the helicopter as a Eurocopter EC135 P2 and noted that it was investigating. Authorities reported that the aircraft was submerged in approximately 240 feet of water. REACH confirmed that one of its helicopters was involved and said it was coordinating with emergency responders and authorities.
