Oct. 1 (UPI) — A medevac helicopter with five people on board crashed into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Southern California’s Catalina Island, killing two people and injuring two others, while a search continues for the fifth person.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department said in a statement that responders were dispatched to the helicopter crash at 7:53 p.m. PDT Wednesday, and recovered four victims from the water. The conditions of the two injured people were not mentioned.
“This remains an active scene with search-and-rescue operations continuing throughout the night,” LACOFD said in the social media statement.
The National Transportation Safety Board, which said it was investigating the crash, identified the involved helicopter as a Eurocopter EC 135 P2, stating it went down near Avalon, Calif.
Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn said she had been informed of the crash, saying it occurred shortly after takeoff.
“Search-and-rescue operations are underway and I am praying for everyone who was on board,” she said in a statement.
LACOFD, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Avalon Fire and the U.S. Coast Guard were participating in the search.
This is a developing story.