A tragic medical helicopter crash off California’s Catalina Island has claimed three lives, leaving families and the aviation medical community in mourning.
On September 30, a REACH Air Medical Services Eurocopter EC135 P2 crashed into the ocean shortly after taking off from Pebbly Beach heliport, just before 8 p.m.
The helicopter was carrying five people, including the pilot, two flight nurses, a 45-year-old patient suffering from a severe allergic reaction and her 24-year-old son.
Authorities identified the three victims as Steven “Steve” Robinson, 59, the pilot; Jessica deVries, 48, a flight nurse; and Catalina Hernandez, 45, the patient being transported to the mainland for emergency medical treatment.
Robinson was a former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot who had flown Marine One in support of a former U.S. president before joining REACH Air Medical Services. His family remembered him as a devoted husband, father and friend who dedicated his career to serving others.
DeVries had worked as a flight nurse for REACH for 15 years. Her loved ones described her as a compassionate healthcare professional, a devoted mother and a true hero who touched countless lives.
Flight-tracking data indicated that the helicopter climbed to approximately 175 feet above sea level just eight seconds after departure before rapidly descending into the water. Witnesses and first responders watched in horror as the aircraft went down moments after takeoff.
Emergency crews rushed to the scene and recovered four people from the water. Robinson and deVries were pronounced dead, while flight nurse Brad Sparks and Hernandez’s son survived with broken bones and were taken to the hospital.
Hernandez remained missing, triggering an extensive overnight search involving multiple agencies and specialized dive teams. On October 1, divers recovered her body from inside the wreckage, which was located approximately 200 feet beneath the ocean’s surface. Underwater cameras revealed that the helicopter remained largely intact on the seabed.
REACH Air Medical Services expressed profound sadness over the loss of its crew members and extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy. Los Angeles County Fire officials also paid tribute to deVries, whose partner, Battalion Chief Brenda Simonian, is part of the department’s family.
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash. The cause of the helicopter’s sudden descent remains unknown.
Three lives have been lost in a mission that began with the goal of saving a life. As investigators work to uncover what went wrong, families, colleagues and the Catalina Island community are left mourning an unimaginable tragedy.
