Catalina Island, Avalon, USAThursday, October 10, 2024
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A tragic plane crash near Catalina Island's airport claimed the lives of five adults on Tuesday night. The twin-engine Beechcraft 95 went down in rugged terrain about a mile from the airport shortly after taking off. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Avalon Station received a 911 SOS notification from a cellular device, which led rescuers to the wreckage.
The plane had taken off from Santa Monica Airport, traveled to Catalina Island, and was departing again when the crash occurred. The cause of the crash is still under investigation, but the island's airport is known for its challenges. It's located at a high elevation with a single, 3,000-foot runway, making landings tricky for pilots.
"I've landed there several times," said Scott Reiff of AIR7. "You approach over a cliff, and as you descend, you can't see the end of the runway. There's a hump in the middle, so it's deceiving." The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.
