Local News
5 people killed after small plane crashes on Catalina Island off Southern California
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Catalina Island, California (October 10, 2024) – A tragic plane crash occurred on Catalina Island Tuesday night, resulting in the deaths of all five individuals on board.
The Avalon Sheriff Station received an SOS emergency notification from a cellphone shortly after 8 PM, indicating a collision with potential injuries.
The notification provided GPS coordinates, guiding authorities to the crash site, located approximately one mile west of Catalina Island Airport.
A joint effort by deputies, firefighters, and Avalon Search and Rescue personnel led to the discovery of the wreckage of a twin-engine aircraft.
All five victims, adults, were found at the crash site and declared deceased.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the plane involved was a twin-engine Beechcraft 95 that crashed shortly after takeoff.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will jointly investigate the incident, with the NTSB taking the lead. Further updates will be provided by the NTSB.
Catalina Island Airport is primarily used for general aviation aircraft, including single-engine airplanes. Known as the Airport in the Sky due to its elevation of 1,602 feet, it has a single, 3,000-foot runway.
Emergency services in Queens responded to a multi-casualty incident (MCI) late Thursday involving a major motor vehicle accident on the Kosciuszko Bridge.
The accident left six individuals injured, including two victims in critical condition suffering from traumatic cardiac arrest.
First responders arrived on scene under Box 8380, finding multiple vehicles involved in a collision that caused significant damage and blocked portions of the bridge.
Emergency medical teams immediately began triage and treatment, stabilizing patients for transport to area hospitals.
Two individuals required advanced life-saving measures at the scene as they were in traumatic arrest due to their injuries.
Four additional patients sustained varying levels of injury, and all six were transported to nearby trauma centers for further care.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash, which caused major traffic disruptions in the area. Motorists were advised to seek alternate routes as emergency crews worked to clear the scene and restore traffic flow.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses and the conditions of the injured individuals are made available.