Two killed, two hospitalised and one missing in medical helicopter crash in California's Catalina island

The helicopter’s operator confirmed that the two deceased were members of its staff, the pilot flying the helicopter and an onboard nurse. Transport safety officials say an investigation into the crash remains ongoing.

A medical helicopter transporting a patient crashed off Catalina Island near Los Angeles, killing two people and leaving two others hospitalised, authorities said on Thursday.

Rescuers continued searching for a fifth person who was aboard the aircraft and went missing after the Wednesday night crash.

The Coast Guard, firefighters and divers with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department were among emergency crews who searched through the night and into the night on Thursday.

The cause of the accident was not immediately clear. Coast Guard Captain Stacey Crecy said the helicopter went down shortly after take-off and hit the water a short distance from the island.

“We believe that the medical aircraft was transporting a person off the island for additional medical care on the mainland,” said Crecy.

Relatives of the missing person told US media outlets that the woman was being transported after having an allergic reaction. They also said her 20-year-old son went with her in the helicopter to help translate.

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