1 missing, 4 rushed to hospital after helicopter crashes off Southern California island

A medevac helicopter crashed into the water shortly after taking off from Catalina Island, California, on Wednesday night. One of the five people aboard was reported missing, while the other four were taken to hospitals as search and rescue teams worked to locate the missing person.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department received reports shortly before 8 p.m. and sent helicopters and divers; the Coast Guard, sheriff’s department and Avalon Fire also responded. Two people were reported in stable condition and two in unknown condition. Flight data showed the Reach Air Medical Services helicopter had flown from Oceanside and landed on Catalina Island earlier that evening.