Two people were killed Thursday afternoon when a small aircraft went down on the south side of Catalina Island in a rugged area opposite Avalon, officials said.
“This is a tragedy and my heart goes out to the loved ones of those who lost their lives,” Hahn said in her statement. “I am grateful to our paramedics and Sheriff’s deputies who quickly reached this remote area and are handling this incident with professionalism and care.”
The agency said it is working with emergency responders “who are leading the investigation and response,” and that its main role for now is to provide access and logistical support in the area. To aid investigators, nearby roads and hiking trails—including the popular Garden to Sky Trail—were temporarily closed.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed Friday that an Airplane Factory Sling aircraft crashed near Avalon around 12:30 p.m. local time April 9. The FAA said two people were aboard and that both it and the National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the fatal crash.
“This information is preliminary and subject to change,” the agency said in a statement to NTD News. It added that the National Transportation Safety Board will lead the inquiry and release further updates once the aircraft’s registration number has been verified.
The FAA said a preliminary accident report will be posted on its online database and that, once confirmed, the airplane’s registration information can be searched through its aircraft registry.
The crash site lies in one of Catalina’s most remote regions—a steep, brush-covered section of the island several miles from Avalon—difficult terrain that required a coordinated response from sheriff’s deputies and county paramedics.
No additional details about the plane’s flight path or the identities of those aboard have been released. Authorities said updates will be shared as the investigation progresses.