Catalina Island, CA - Three Dead After Air Medical Helicopter Crash Off Coast

Catalina Island, California (September 30, 2026) - The Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatched crews at about 7:50 p.m. on September 30 after receiving initial reports of a helicopter crash off the coast of Catalina Island. Three of the five people aboard died.

Flight tracking data showed the Reach Air Medical Services helicopter took off from Oceanside in San Diego County at 6:40 p.m. and landed on Catalina Island at 7:04 p.m. Five people were aboard, including a patient seeking medical treatment on the mainland.

Rescue crews found four of the five people right after the crash. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department said the pilot and a nurse were declared dead at the scene. A medic and another man were flown to Ronald Reagan Medical Center at UCLA.

The search for the final person lasted nearly 24 hours. The patient's body was recovered at about 6:30 p.m. on October 1. Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said dive teams found the helicopter on the ocean floor, 218 feet below sea level.

The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate what caused the crash. The agency identified the aircraft as a Eurocopter EC 135 P2.

This is a developing story. Details may change as the investigation continues.

Fatal Helicopter and Air Medical Crashes in California

A crash involving an air medical flight can involve several companies and several layers of rules. These points matter early.

• Who may be liable: The aircraft operator, a maintenance provider, or the makers of the helicopter or its parts, depending on what the investigation finds.
• What investigators examine: Maintenance and inspection records, flight tracking data, pilot training and duty hours, aircraft and engine components, and weather and sea conditions.
• The NTSB and a civil claim are separate: The NTSB investigates cause. It does not decide who owes a family compensation.
• Crew members: Workers' compensation benefits may apply when someone dies on the job. Claims against outside parties, such as a manufacturer or maintenance contractor, can be separate.
• Who may bring a claim: Certain family members, including a spouse, domestic partner, and children, may file a wrongful death claim (CCP § 377.60).

The crash happened on September 30, 2026. California's general deadline for a wrongful death claim is two years (CCP § 335.1), which puts it at September 30, 2028. Federal law can change the analysis when a crash happens over open water, so early legal review matters.

Contact Our California Wrongful Death Attorneys

A family that waits through a long search for someone they love, and then hears the worst, is left with grief and questions at the same time. Nobody should have to deal with insurers and investigators while mourning.

Our wrongful death attorneys in Los Angeles have recovered more than $200 million for clients, including a $5 million wrongful death settlement. We take cases to trial every year.

Maintenance logs, flight records, and the wreckage itself can shape a claim, and much of that evidence sits with the operator and investigators. Attorneys who ask for it early are in a better position to protect it.

We work on contingency, so you owe no fees unless we win your case.

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• $200M+ recovered for clients
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Talk Through What Happened With Our Team: (866) 836-6588

We will go over what is known, explain how the NTSB process relates to a civil claim, and answer questions at whatever pace your family needs.

Legal Disclaimer

This page is attorney advertising and is provided for general informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Incident information is based on publicly available reports and may change as the investigation continues. The Law Offices of Christian Contreras is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to any law enforcement or emergency response agency. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes, and no outcome is promised or implied.