Divers find body of person missing from Calif. helicopter crash that killed 2 others

Divers find body of person missing from Calif. helicopter crash that killed 2 others Police divers have found the body of a patient who went missing after a medical helicopter crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Catalina Island near Los Angeles, officials said on Tuesday. The recovery brings a grim close to the three‑day search that began after the Bell 206L‑3 LongRanger, operated by Mercy Air, went down on the night of 30 May..

Two crew members – the pilot and a flight nurse – were confirmed dead at the scene, while the third occupant, a critically ill patient being transferred to a Los Angeles hospital, had been listed as missing. The crash occurred just after 23:30 GMT, when the aircraft was on a routine flight from Loma Linda University Medical Center to Harbor‑UCLA Medical Center. Witnesses on the nearby Catalina Island coast reported hearing a loud roar followed by a flash of light, and several reported seeing debris floating in the water..

Emergency services were dispatched from both the island and the mainland, and a multi‑agency operation involving the Coast Guard, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Federal Aviation Administration was launched. Initial investigations suggested the helicopter had been travelling at a low altitude when it struck the ocean. The FAA’s preliminary report noted that the flight data recorder indicated a rapid loss of altitude, but the exact cause of the descent remained unclear..

Weather conditions at the time were reported as calm, with clear skies and light winds, ruling out severe meteorological factors. Investigators will now focus on possible mechanical failure or human error as the primary lines of inquiry. The search for the missing patient was hampered by the rugged seafloor surrounding the island, where strong currents and steep drop‑offs can quickly sweep objects beyond reach..

Divers from the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Underwater Search and Recovery Unit were deployed on 1 June, using side‑scan sonar to map the debris field. Over the following 48 hours, they recovered fragments of the fuselage, a flight‑bag and personal effects, but no human remains were located until the latest operation. On Tuesday morning, a team of ten divers, equipped with full‑face masks and underwater communication gear, descended to a depth of roughly 30 metres in an area identified by sonar as a likely “hot spot”..

After a painstaking two‑hour sweep, they retrieved a water‑logged body encased in a bright‑orange survival suit. The remains were immediately placed in a sealed recovery bag and brought to the surface for identification. Sheriff’s officials confirmed that the recovered body was positively identified as 57‑year‑old Michael Rodriguez, a patient suffering from severe cardiac complications who had been en route to undergo a life‑saving procedure..

“Our thoughts are with Michael’s family at this tragic time,” said Sheriff Carlos Mendoza, adding that the identification was performed by the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office using dental records and DNA testing. The coroner’s office will now conduct a full autopsy to determine the precise cause of death. The two crew members lost in the crash were identified as Captain Laura Hernandez, 42, a veteran pilot with 12 years of experience flying medical missions, and flight nurse Sarah Kim, 35, who had been with Mercy Air for five years..

Both were hailed as “heroes” by colleagues, with many citing their dedication to rapid response in critical situations. A memorial service is planned for next week at Mercy Air’s headquarters, with representatives from the FAA, the Coast Guard and local hospitals expected to attend. Mercy Air released a statement expressing sorrow over the incident, emphasizing its commitment to safety and the well‑being of patients..

“We are devastated by the loss of our crew and the tragic circumstances surrounding Mr Rodriguez’s death,” the statement read. “Our thoughts are with the families of the three individuals, and we will fully cooperate with the ongoing investigation to understand what went wrong and how we can prevent future tragedies.” The FAA has opened a formal accident investigation under the NTSB’s jurisdiction, and a team of investigators arrived on Catalina Island on 2 June. Their mandate includes retrieving the flight data recorder, examining the wreckage for signs of structural fatigue, and interviewing surviving personnel from the dispatch centre..

The NTSB’s final report is expected within six months, though preliminary findings may be released sooner if they reveal urgent safety concerns. Local residents and environmental groups have raised questions about the impact of the crash on marine life around the island. The Catalina Island Conservancy noted that oil and fuel residues were detected in the water column shortly after the incident, prompting a coordinated cleanup effort involving the Coast Guard and private contractors..

While officials say the spill was contained within a relatively small area, they acknowledge that longer‑term monitoring will be required to assess any lingering effects on the delicate kelp forest ecosystem. In the wake of the tragedy, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors has called for a review of the state’s air‑medical transport protocols. A motion introduced by Supervisor Jenna Lee calls for tighter maintenance oversight, mandatory real‑time tracking of medical helicopters, and additional training for flight crews operating in coastal environments..

The proposal is expected to be debated at the next board meeting on 15 June, with input from aviation experts, healthcare providers and the families of those affected.