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Catalina REACH helicopter crash: Latest update on passengers; what happened at Los Angeles county island?
A helicopter crashed into the ocean on September 30, prompting rescue crews to rush to the Catalina Island coastline.
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A helicopter crashed into the ocean near Catalina Island in Los Angeles County, California on September 30, prompting rescue crews to rush to the coastline.
LA County Supervisor Janice Hahn shared more details about the crash. A medevac helicopter was leaving Catalina Island and crashed shortly after the takeoff. LA County Fire, Sheriff, Coast Guard, and Avalon Fire are on the scene, she noted, and added “Search and rescue operations are underway and I am praying for everyone who was on board.”
As per the Los Angeles County Fire Department, helicopters and divers were dispatched at around 7:50pm. A cause for the crash is not known at this time.
Catalina helicopter crash: Latest update on passengers
Five people were onboard, and three have been rescued by boat crews. Two were spotted by the US Coast Guard, CBS News reported. No one has been transported yet, as per the report.
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Meanwhile, NBC Los Angeles reported that it was unclear how many people were on board and that one person remained missing. They added that a diving team was responding to the situation.
A local journalist shared on Facebook “3 victims have been pulled from the water alive, one victim unfortunately suffering cardiac arrest with CPR currently in progress and 5th victim is currently unknown. LAcoFire is currently setting up a landing zone to transport patients to local trauma centers. Flight nurse and pilot are the most critical at this time, both are in full arrest and CPR is in progress. One may still be unaccounted for.” However, this information remains unverified.
Helicopter's flight path shared online amid crash
The flight path of the helicopter was shared online amid the Catalina Island crash. “A REACH air ambulance helicopter (Airbus EC135, N313RX, callsign REH16) went down shortly after departing Avalon, Catalina, at 7:46 PM PT. ADS-B shows it reaching 175 ft, then descending before its signal was lost 8 seconds after takeoff. A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60 responded,” a page noted.
Meanwhile, others offered prayers amid the news of the helicopter crash. “God be with them all,” one wrote, while another added “Oh so very sad, sending prayers.”
Others too hoped for a miracle amid the nighttime rescue mission launched to find the crash survivors. The photos of the flight path showed the helicopter going around in circles, before the crash.
