The recovery
The recovery effort off the coast of Catalina Island has officially shifted to a recovery mission following the discovery of a final victim. Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department divers located the body of a patient late Thursday inside the wreckage, which sits about 200 feet deep underwater. This brings the confirmed death toll to three, with two other survivors currently receiving hospital care. It’s giving heartbreaking news.
How we got here
The helicopter, operated by Reach Air Medical Services, went down shortly after takeoff on Wednesday night. It was in the middle of a flight from Catalina Island to the mainland, carrying a patient who was experiencing an allergic reaction. According to reports from the patient's family, the patient was accompanied by her 20-year-old son, who was acting as a language interpreter during the transport.
Local authorities, including Sheriff Robert Luna, confirmed that the three fatalities include the pilot, a nurse, and the patient. Reach Air Medical Services noted that two of their crew members were among the deceased. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an investigation to figure out why the aircraft hit the water; right now, the cause remains a total mystery. The Coast Guard spent 23 hours scouring over 150 square miles of the Pacific before finding the final victim.
Why it matters
This is a heavy situation for the first responder community. Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn addressed the tragedy on the island, noting that the crew members were "heroes" who spent their lives trying to save others. It’s a somber reminder of the risks involved in air medical transport.
