{"id":26127184,"date":"2026-10-02T10:51:07","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T08:51:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/catalina-helicopter-crash-reach-ec135-air-ambulance-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T10:51:30","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T08:51:30","slug":"catalina-helicopter-crash-reach-ec135-air-ambulance-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/de\/catalina-helicopter-crash-reach-ec135-air-ambulance-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Catalina Helicopter Crash: Three Killed Aboard REACH Air Ambulance"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style>\r\n<!-- mfsh:top -->\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n.mfsh-trigger{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;height:44px;padding:0 18px;margin:0 0 26px;border:2px solid 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Within moments it was in the sea off Pebbly Beach.<\/p>\r\n<p>Three of the five people aboard died: the pilot, a nurse and the patient, a 45-year-old Avalon woman who, relatives say, had suffered an allergic reaction. A medic and the patient&rsquo;s son survived and were flown to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where both were reported in stable condition.<\/p>\r\n<p>Los Angeles County Sheriff&rsquo;s Department divers found the woman&rsquo;s body in the wreckage on Thursday evening, the Coast Guard said, nearly 23 hours after the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating, and no cause has been given.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f4f6f9;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:18px 22px;margin:28px 0;font-size:15px;line-height:1.75\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;font-weight:700;color:#0d1117;font-size:17px\">Quick Facts<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0\"><strong>Aircraft<\/strong> &mdash; Eurocopter EC135 P2+ air ambulance, identified as N313RX<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0\"><strong>Operator<\/strong> &mdash; REACH Air Medical Services<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0\"><strong>When<\/strong> &mdash; About 7:45 pm, Wednesday 30 September 2026<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0\"><strong>Where<\/strong> &mdash; Off Pebbly Beach, about a mile from Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, California<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0\"><strong>Aboard<\/strong> &mdash; Five: pilot, nurse, medic, patient and the patient&rsquo;s son<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0\"><strong>Outcome<\/strong> &mdash; Three dead (pilot, nurse, patient); medic and son survived, in stable condition<\/p><p style=\"margin:5px 0\"><strong>Investigation<\/strong> &mdash; NTSB in charge, FAA also investigating; wreckage in 218 feet of water<\/p><\/div>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Forty minutes on the island<\/h2>\r\n<p>The helicopter had flown in from Oceanside, in San Diego County, leaving at about 6:40 pm and landing on Catalina at 7:04 pm, according to Flightradar24 data cited by local stations and the Associated Press. Flight-tracking records cited by aviation outlets identify it as N313RX, an EC135 P2+ registered to REACH Air Medical Services of Santa Rosa, California. Airbus Helicopters confirmed that an EC135 P2+ operated by REACH was involved.<\/p>\r\n<p>Sunset in Avalon that evening came at 6:40 pm, so the departure from Pebbly Beach was made in darkness. Flight-tracking data reported by the Los Angeles Times show the helicopter climbed to about 175 feet in roughly eight seconds before descending rapidly. Coast Guard Capt. Stacey Crecy said it went down shortly after takeoff and hit the water a short distance from the island.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 8px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/E7KvncL16uY\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:0 0 24px;font-style:italic\">ABC7 Los Angeles reports on the rescue operation off Avalon after the medevac helicopter went down shortly after takeoff.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Baywatch Avalon personnel alerted the Coast Guard at about 7:50 pm, and county rescue boats reached the scene within three minutes of the call, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said. &ldquo;We do have survivors in the water,&rdquo; one voice reports on a recording of the emergency radio traffic. Four people were pulled from the sea; two were pronounced dead at the scene.<\/p>\r\n<p>The Coast Guard sent an MH-60 Jayhawk crew from Air Station Ventura and a 45-foot Response Boat-Medium to join county fire crews, Baywatch boats from Avalon, Cabrillo and the Isthmus, and sheriff&rsquo;s divers. By Thursday afternoon the search had covered more than 130 square nautical miles over about 20 hours, in what Crecy described as ideal conditions.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/coast-guard-mh-60-jayhawk-air-station-ventura.jpg\" alt=\"US Coast Guard MH-60 Jayhawk from Air Station Ventura flying low over the Port of Los Angeles\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">File photo: a Coast Guard Air Station Ventura MH-60 Jayhawk over the Port of Los Angeles in May 2026. The air station sent a Jayhawk crew to the Catalina crash. Photo: Petty Officer 3rd Class Nico Cavanagh \/ US Coast Guard (public domain)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Found in the wreckage<\/h2>\r\n<p>A county lifeguard dive team using a remotely operated vehicle located the wreckage in 218 feet of water, Marrone said. The fire department said the missing woman was located shortly before 6:30 pm on Thursday.<\/p>\r\n<p>Relatives described her as a mother of three who had lived and worked on the island for more than 20 years, and said her son had gone with her to help translate. Authorities have not released the names of the dead, and REACH said it would not identify its crew members until their families gave permission.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;display:flex;gap:20px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><em>&ldquo;Our crews dedicate themselves to helping people on what are often the worst days of their lives. They answer the call at all hours to provide critical care to patients and support for families in moments of crisis.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>REACH Air Medical Services<\/strong> &mdash; Company statement on the Catalina crash (KTLA, 1 October 2026)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The investigation<\/h2>\r\n<p>The NTSB is in charge of the investigation, with the FAA also investigating, and its team reached the scene at about 11:30 am on Thursday. &ldquo;It is very early in the investigation, and limited information is available at this time,&rdquo; an NTSB spokesperson said. The helicopter is to be recovered and taken to a secure facility for examination, and Airbus Helicopters said it was supporting the NTSB.<\/p>\r\n<p>The FAA&rsquo;s initial statement placed the crash near the Pebbly Beach Seaplane Base, with five people on board. A preliminary NTSB report on the Catalina helicopter crash would typically follow within about two weeks; the final report, with a probable cause, usually takes one to two years.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"max-width:550px;margin:0 auto 8px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=2105545456419742027&theme=light\" style=\"width:100%;height:560px;border:none;overflow:hidden\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:0 auto 28px;font-style:italic\">The NTSB confirms it is investigating the 30 September crash near Avalon.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The type and the island<\/h2>\r\n<p>The EC135 is a twin-engine light helicopter that first flew in 1994 and entered service in 1996. In P-series versions such as the P2+, its two turboshafts are Pratt &amp; Whitney Canada PW206s. Airbus, which now markets the type as the H135, says more than 700 serve as dedicated emergency medical helicopters worldwide, making it the global fleet leader in that role.<\/p>\r\n<p>Catalina lies about 22 miles off the Los Angeles County mainland and has one small hospital. Around 250 people a year are flown to the mainland for treatment, the hospital&rsquo;s chief executive has previously said, according to the Los Angeles Times.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/avalon-santa-catalina-island-harbor.jpg\" alt=\"Avalon Bay on Santa Catalina Island with moored boats and the town on the hillside\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">Avalon, Santa Catalina Island, in 2013. The Pebbly Beach heliport lies about a mile from the town. Photo: Ken Lund \/ CC BY-SA 2.0<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n<p>REACH lost a crew member less than a year earlier. On 6 October 2025, one of its EC130 T2 helicopters came down on Highway 50 in Sacramento moments after leaving the UC Davis Medical Center heliport, and the flight nurse aboard died of her injuries days later; the NTSB has not yet issued its final report. Wednesday&rsquo;s crash also came 11 days after a firefighting helicopter crash in Yosemite National Park killed two pilots, and two weeks after a news helicopter went down in Los Angeles, the Associated Press noted.<\/p>\r\n<p>Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who represents Catalina, posted about the crash on X within hours, writing that search and rescue operations were under way and that she was praying for everyone on board. She later paid tribute to those aboard.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;display:flex;gap:20px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><em>&ldquo;This is a tragedy for Catalina and for Los Angeles County. The men and women on board dedicated their careers to responding to crisis and saving lives. They are heroes.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Janice Hahn<\/strong> &mdash; Los Angeles County Supervisor (Los Angeles Times, 1 October 2026)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n<p>On Thursday, a memorial service was held on the island near the crash site to mourn and pray for those involved, ABC7 reported. REACH said that in the days ahead its focus would remain on caring for its people, supporting their families and honouring the lives and service of those it had lost.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><em>Sources: Federal Aviation Administration statement, 30 September 2026; NTSB Newsroom on X, 1 October 2026; US Coast Guard via FOX 5 San Diego\/KUSI, 1 October 2026; Associated Press via PBS NewsHour, 1 October 2026; Los Angeles Times, 1 October 2026; KTLA, 1 October 2026; ABC7 Los Angeles, 1-2 October 2026; NBC Los Angeles, 1-2 October 2026; NBC 7 San Diego, 1 October 2026; CBS Los Angeles, 1 October 2026; FOX 11 Los Angeles, 1 October 2026; City News Service via MyNewsLA, 1 October 2026; California Post, 1 October 2026; KRCR, 1 October 2026; Baird Maritime, 1 October 2026; FLYING Magazine, 1 October 2026; AeroCorner, 1 October 2026; AeroTime, 1 October 2026; Boing Boing, 1 October 2026; FAA Aircraft Registry, accessed 2 October 2026; Airbus Helicopters H135 product page, accessed 2 October 2026; Safran, 11 October 2016; NTSB investigation and family-assistance pages; CapRadio, 4 November 2025; CBS Sacramento, 12 October 2025; Wikipedia, Eurocopter EC135<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<!-- mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger mfsh-bottom\" data-mfsh-placement=\"bottom\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button>\r\n\r\n<!-- \/mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n\r\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\r\n\r\n\r\n<section class=\"mfq\"><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"qa\"><details open><summary>What happened in the Catalina helicopter crash on 30 September 2026?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">At about 7:45 pm on Wednesday 30 September 2026, a REACH Air Medical Services EC135 air ambulance went into the sea moments after lifting off from the Pebbly Beach heliport on Santa Catalina Island, about a mile from Avalon. It was carrying a patient to the mainland. Three of the five people aboard died and two survived.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>How many people died in the Catalina Island air ambulance crash?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Three of the five people aboard the REACH EC135 died: the pilot, a nurse and the patient, a 45-year-old Avalon woman. A medic and the patient's son survived and were flown to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where both were reported in stable condition. Sheriff's divers found the patient's body in the wreckage on Thursday 1 October.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Where did the REACH helicopter take off from on Catalina Island?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The REACH EC135 took off from the Pebbly Beach heliport, about a mile from Avalon on Santa Catalina Island. It had flown in from Oceanside in San Diego County, leaving at about 6:40 pm and landing on the island at 7:04 pm, according to Flightradar24 data. The FAA placed the crash near the Pebbly Beach Seaplane Base.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What type of helicopter crashed off Catalina Island?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The aircraft was a Eurocopter EC135 P2+ air ambulance operated by REACH Air Medical Services and identified from flight-tracking records as N313RX. The EC135, now marketed by Airbus as the H135, is a twin-engine light helicopter that first flew in 1994. Airbus says more than 700 serve as dedicated emergency medical helicopters worldwide.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Who is investigating the Catalina helicopter crash and when will there be a report?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The NTSB is in charge of the investigation, with the FAA also investigating. NTSB investigators reached the scene on Thursday 1 October, and the wreckage, found in 218 feet of water, is to be recovered for examination. A preliminary report typically follows within about two weeks; the final report, with a probable cause, usually takes one to two years.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Was the REACH helicopter flying to Catalina Island when it crashed?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">No. The REACH EC135 had flown in from Oceanside earlier that evening and landed on Catalina at 7:04 pm. It crashed at about 7:45 pm, moments after lifting off from the Pebbly Beach heliport with a patient bound for the mainland. Investigators have not yet given a cause.<\/div><\/details><\/div><\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What happened in the Catalina helicopter crash on 30 September 2026?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"At about 7:45 pm on Wednesday 30 September 2026, a REACH Air Medical Services EC135 air ambulance went into the sea moments after lifting off from the Pebbly Beach heliport on Santa Catalina Island, about a mile from Avalon. It was carrying a patient to the mainland. Three of the five people aboard died and two survived.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many people died in the Catalina Island air ambulance crash?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Three of the five people aboard the REACH EC135 died: the pilot, a nurse and the patient, a 45-year-old Avalon woman. A medic and the patient's son survived and were flown to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where both were reported in stable condition. Sheriff's divers found the patient's body in the wreckage on Thursday 1 October.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Where did the REACH helicopter take off from on Catalina Island?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The REACH EC135 took off from the Pebbly Beach heliport, about a mile from Avalon on Santa Catalina Island. It had flown in from Oceanside in San Diego County, leaving at about 6:40 pm and landing on the island at 7:04 pm, according to Flightradar24 data. The FAA placed the crash near the Pebbly Beach Seaplane Base.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What type of helicopter crashed off Catalina Island?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The aircraft was a Eurocopter EC135 P2+ air ambulance operated by REACH Air Medical Services and identified from flight-tracking records as N313RX. The EC135, now marketed by Airbus as the H135, is a twin-engine light helicopter that first flew in 1994. Airbus says more than 700 serve as dedicated emergency medical helicopters worldwide.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Who is investigating the Catalina helicopter crash and when will there be a report?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The NTSB is in charge of the investigation, with the FAA also investigating. NTSB investigators reached the scene on Thursday 1 October, and the wreckage, found in 218 feet of water, is to be recovered for examination. A preliminary report typically follows within about two weeks; the final report, with a probable cause, usually takes one to two years.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Was the REACH helicopter flying to Catalina Island when it crashed?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"No. The REACH EC135 had flown in from Oceanside earlier that evening and landed on Catalina at 7:04 pm. It crashed at about 7:45 pm, moments after lifting off from the Pebbly Beach heliport with a patient bound for the mainland. Investigators have not yet given a cause.\"}}]}<\/script><div style=\"background:#f0f4ff;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0 8px\"><p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600;color:#333\">Related Posts<\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/quebec-helicopter-crash-sainte-brigide-d-iberville-four-killed-2026\/\">Quebec Helicopter Crash: Four Killed Near Montreal<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/yosemite-helicopter-crash-as332-dome-fire-september-2026\/\">Yosemite Helicopter Crash: Two Killed on the Dome Fire<\/a><\/p><p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/newschopper4-as350-chatsworth-helicopter-crash-2026\/\">NewsChopper4: Three Killed in Chatsworth Helicopter Crash<\/a><\/p><\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A REACH Air Medical Services EC135 air ambulance went into the sea moments after lifting off from Catalina Island&rsquo;s Pebbly Beach heliport on 30 September 2026. The pilot, a nurse and the patient died; a medic and the patient&rsquo;s son survived.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":26127018,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[665,670],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26127184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aviation-world","category-news"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Catalina Helicopter Crash: 3 Killed in REACH EC135 | MiGFlug<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Catalina helicopter crash: a REACH EC135 air ambulance went down off Avalon after takeoff on 30 September, killing the pilot, a nurse and the patient.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" 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