Medical helicopter crashes off California’s Catalina Island; 2 dead, search on for missing person

A medical helicopter crashed into the waters off Catalina Island near Los Angeles, killing two people and injuring two others, while rescuers searched for a fifth person reported missing from the aircraft, authorities said.The Los Angeles County Fire Department said rescuers pulled four people from the water after the helicopter crashed shortly before 8 pm Wednesday. Two were pronounced dead at the scene, while two others were taken to hospitals on the mainland in stable condition.The search for the fifth person continued early Thursday as emergency teams carried out rescue operations through the night. “This remains an active scene with search and rescue operations continuing throughout the night,” the fire department said in a social media post.Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said she was told the medevac helicopter crashed shortly after taking off from Catalina Island. County firefighters and lifeguards, along with the US Coast Guard and sheriff’s department, responded to the crash.Authorities said the helicopter was submerged in about 240 feet (73 metres) of water off Catalina Island, which lies around 22 miles (35 kilometres) from the Los Angeles County mainland.The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. The helicopter was believed to be operated by REACH Air Medical Services, based in Sacramento, California, accYou use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.