Two Killed in Catalina Island Plane Crash, FAA Confirms Ongoing Investigation

Two people died Thursday afternoon when a small aircraft crashed on Catalina Island, officials from the Federal Aviation Administration confirmed. The incident occurred in a remote, rugged area near Avalon around 12:20 p.m., triggering a rapid response from the Los Angeles County Fire Department and emergency personnel.

The aircraft, a 2014 Airplane Factory Sling, had departed from Zamperini Field in Torrance at 10:53 a.m. and was last observed near Avalon at 11:13 a.m., according to flight tracking data. The plane went down while en route to the island, landing in an area that responders identified as difficult to access.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, whose district includes Catalina Island, acknowledged the swift efforts of paramedics and sheriff’s deputies in reaching the scene. “This is a tragedy and my heart goes out to the loved ones of those who lost their lives,” Supervisor Hahn said in a public statement. She expressed gratitude for the professionalism demonstrated by first responders.

Both of the plane’s occupants were pronounced dead at the crash site. Authorities have not yet released their identities, and efforts are underway to notify next of kin.

Records indicate the aircraft had flown regularly in recent days, including previous trips to Carlsbad and to Catalina Island at the end of March. The cause of the crash remains unknown.

A spokesperson for the FAA confirmed that both their agency and the National Transportation Safety Board have launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash. As of Thursday evening, officials had not provided additional details regarding potential causes or contributing factors.