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AWAITING INVESTIGATORUNCONFIRMED2026-10-14ACCREDITED INVESTIGATOR NEEDEDACTIVE MONITORING

Follow-up reporting and official statements are still being collected.

Just before deadly helicopter crash off Catalina, another chopper nearly went down, NTSB says

Aircraft:
medical evacuation helicopter
Operator:
not established
Registration:
not established
Location:
Catalina Island, US
Occurrence type:
serious_incident
Severity:
none
Investigation authority:
Not yet identified
Last verified:
2026-10-15 01:11Z

Reported, but not yet independently confirmed. Highest source tier held: Aviation media. 1 source attached.

CASE WATCH — SeyAero has prepared a computational workspace for this occurrence from open sources. This is not an investigation and contains no finding. The formal safety investigation is the responsibility of the State authority under ICAO Annex 13.

What is known

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating an incident where a medical evacuation helicopter nearly crashed into the water off Catalina Island. This incident occurred moments before a separate deadly helicopter crash in the same area.

What is not yet known

  • · What was the specific type of medical evacuation helicopter involved?
  • · What was the aircraft's registration?
  • · Who was the aircraft operator?
  • · What were the exact circumstances that led to the helicopter nearly crashing into the water?
  • · What was the date and time of this near-crash incident?

Evidence likely to be relevant

Flight data

  • · Flight data recorder or QAR supporting
  • · Track data (ADS-B, radar) supporting

Voice

  • · Cockpit voice recorder supporting
  • · ATC recordings and transcript supporting

Environment

  • · Weather observations and forecasts supporting
  • · Drift and current modelling supporting
  • · Acoustic observations supporting

Aircraft

  • · Maintenance and technical logs supporting
  • · Components and exhibits supporting

Human factors

  • · Crew records, duty and training important

External evidence

  • · Photographs, video and imagery supporting
  • · Witness and ground reports critical

Site and recovery

  • · Wreckage distribution and site survey supporting

Sources

Source timeline

  • 2026-10-15 01:11Z · Case Watch opened from open-source reporting. Awaiting an investigator.

Investigation workspace

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NEW AVIATION OCCURRENCE

SeyAero has opened a Case Watch for Just before deadly helicopter crash off Catalina, another chopper nearly went down, NTSB says.
medical evacuation helicopter · Catalina Island, US
Verification: UNCONFIRMED · Sources: 1
Investigation authority: not yet identified

Evidence plan prepared. Available for investigator claim.

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