All articles tagged with #catalina island
Three people died after a medical helicopter crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island on Wednesday night. The pilot, former Marine One captain Steven Robinson, and flight nurse Jessica deVries were killed, along with patient Catalina Hernandez. Two others survived but were hospitalized. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash, which occurred shortly after takeoff from Pebbly Beach.
A medical helicopter crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island, California, on Wednesday night, killing three people and injuring two. The aircraft, operated by REACH Air Medical Services, was transporting a patient with an allergic reaction from the island to the mainland when it went down shortly after takeoff. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the cause of the crash, which occurred about 200 feet below the surface. This incident follows two other fatal helicopter crashes in California within the past three weeks.
A medical transport helicopter operated by REACH Air Medical Services crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Santa Catalina Island on Wednesday evening, killing three people and injuring two. The Eurocopter EC135 departed the Pebbly Beach heliport near Avalon at approximately 7:50 p.m. and descended rapidly after reaching an altitude of 175 feet. The victims included the pilot, a nurse, and a 45-year-old patient identified as Catalina Hernandez, who was being airlifted for a severe allergic reaction. Two survivors, including the patient's son, were rescued and are in stable condition. The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation into the crash, which is the second fatal incident involving REACH aircraft in less than a year.
A medical transport helicopter crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Santa Catalina Island on Wednesday evening, killing three people and leaving two others hospitalized. The aircraft, a Eurocopter EC135 P2 operated by REACH Air Medical Services, departed Pebbly Beach heliport at approximately 7:50 p.m. and descended rapidly after reaching 175 feet altitude. Three victims, including a pilot, a nurse, and a 45-year-old patient, were killed. Two survivors, including the patient's son, were rescued and are stable. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident, which is the second fatal crash involving REACH aircraft in less than a year.
A medical helicopter operated by REACH Air Medical Services crashed into the ocean off Catalina Island shortly after takeoff on Wednesday night, killing two people and leaving two others hospitalized. Authorities confirmed the aircraft is submerged in 240 feet of water, and search operations continued through the night for a fifth individual who remains missing. The National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred approximately 22 miles from the Los Angeles mainland.
A medical evacuation helicopter crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island on Wednesday evening, killing two people and leaving one missing. The aircraft, operated by Reach Air Medical Services, departed Avalon at 7:46 p.m. and lost signal shortly after takeoff. Rescue teams recovered four survivors, with two in stable condition and two in unknown condition. The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are expected to investigate the cause.
A woman died after falling from a balcony aboard the Carnival Firenze cruise ship near Catalina Island. The ship’s crew alerted authorities, Carnival’s Care Team is supporting the family, and the vessel was en route to Ensenada when the incident occurred; law enforcement was planned to board the ship during docking at Catalina Island.
A 2014 Sling aircraft en route to Catalina crashed in a rugged area around 12:20 p.m. Thursday after departing Torrance, killing both people aboard. Responders reached the remote site as FAA and NTSB investigators probe the cause; identities of the victims have not been released. The aircraft had flown regularly in the days prior, including trips to Catalina.
Two people were killed when a small Airplane Factory Sling crashed in a remote area southwest of Avalon on Catalina Island. Responders declared the victims dead at the scene; the NTSB and FAA will investigate the cause, and roads and trails near the crash site were temporarily closed during the response.
Catalina Island, known for its unique biodiversity, is facing habitat destruction due to nonnative animals, particularly deer, that have been introduced to the island over the past century. To protect the native flora and preserve the island for future generations, conservationists propose culling all the deer. This controversial plan has sparked a feud between local residents and preservationists, highlighting the challenges of balancing conservation efforts with community interests.
The Catalina Island Conservancy, a nonprofit that owns 88 percent of Catalina Island, is proposing to shoot deer from helicopters in order to save the island's native plants and restore its habitat. The island's deer population, introduced for hunting and ranching purposes, has caused significant damage to the ecosystem, leading to soil erosion and the proliferation of flammable shrubs and grasses. While the conservancy believes this is the only viable solution, the plan has sparked outrage among residents and animal lovers who oppose the killing of deer. The conservancy is awaiting approval from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for the project.