Three killed after REACH H135 crashes off California’s Catalina Island

Three people died when a REACH Air Medical Services Airbus H135 crashed into the ocean shortly after takeoff from Catalina Island, off the coast of Southern California, on 30 September.

The helicopter, carrying three crewmembers and two patients, crashed at about 7:50pm near Pebbly Beach, according to the US Coast Guard and REACH. Two crewmembers died at the scene, while a third crewmember and the patient’s son were rescued and taken to hospital. The female patient, Catalina Romero, 45, was initially reported missing. Her body was recovered from the wreckage on 1 October after an overnight search.

The victims were identified as pilot Steven ‘Steve’ Robinson, 59, flight nurse Jessica deVries, 48, and Romero. The surviving crewmember was flight nurse Brad Sparks.

Robinson had previously served as a US Marine Corps helicopter pilot and flown Marine One in support of a former US president before joining REACH as a medevac pilot. Colleagues described deVries as “a true hero, a devoted mother, and an extraordinary woman”.

Sean Russell, Pacific Region President of Global Medical Response, the parent company of REACH, said: “This tragedy has touched every corner of our organization. Steve, Jessica, and Brad represent the very best in air medical care – skill, courage, compassion, and service to others.”

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the crash. The circumstances of the accident, including the cause, have not been determined.