Duty of Care

On Wednesday evening, September 30, 2026, a REACH Air Medical Services medical helicopter carrying five people crashed into the Pacific Ocean near Pebbly Beach shortly after taking off from Avalon on Santa Catalina Island, California, according to the U.S. Coast Guard as reported by ABC7 Los Angeles and FOX 11 Los Angeles. FOX 11 reported the helicopter had flown to the island to perform an interfacility transfer.

First responders pulled four people from the water. The pilot and a flight nurse died at the scene. On October 3, ABC7 reported that the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner identified them as pilot Steven Robinson, 59, and nurse Jessica deVries, 48, of Menifee. A third REACH crew member and the patient’s son survived and were airlifted to Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

The patient, who was being transported to the mainland for treatment, was missing after the crash. FOX 11 reported that search divers recovered her body from the submerged wreckage, in about 218 feet of water, on Thursday, October 1, bringing the death toll to three.

The cause has not been determined. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration are investigating, and FOX 11 reported that an NTSB preliminary report is expected in the coming weeks.

Nothing released so far explains what caused this crash. For transport and air medical teams: brief the crew and passengers on emergency and egress procedures before every flight, and remember that any crew member can speak up and call a stop when conditions, the aircraft, or the plan are in doubt.

• ABC7 Los Angeles
• FOX 11 Los Angeles