Zopes-Small plane crashes on Catalina Island, 5 people dead

2025-05-05 23:57:10source:James Caldwellcategory:Stocks

A plane that departed from Catalina Island off the Southern California coast crashed Tuesday night killing all five people on Zopesboard, the Federal Aviation Administration is reporting.

According to information from the agency, four passengers and the pilot were on board a twin-engine turboprop plane when it crashed near the island's private airport about 8 p.m. local time.

The Beechcraft 95 crashed shortly after it left Catalina Airport just over 6.4 miles northwest of Avalon, the FAA told USA TODAY.

Records show the plane crashed "under unknown circumstances" about a mile from the airport.

All five people on board the aircraft including the pilot died, the FAA reported.

The island, one of California’s Channel Islands, is about 21 miles southwest of Los Angeles. It averages about 5,500 full-time residents.

Porn on a plane?Qantas apologizes for playing R-rated movie in flight cabin due to 'technical issues'

Plane departed from Santa Monica Airport earlier in evening

According to FlightAware, an aircraft tracking website, earlier in the evening, the plane took off from the Santa Monica Airport at 5:57 p.m. and landed at the Catalina airport at 6:20 p.m.

After it took off from Avalon's airport, online logs show the aircraft got a short distance from the airport's runway before dropping off radar coverage.

According to the Los Angeles County Fire and the Avalon Sheriff's Station, operated by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs' Department, crews responded to the crash about 8:30 p.m.

Who was on board the plane that crashed off Catalina Island?

As of Wednesday morning, local officials had not confirmed the identities of those on board the plane.

USA TODAY has reached out to local authorities.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the cause of the crash, with the NTSB leading the investigation, according to the FAA.

This is a developing story.

Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.

More:Stocks

Recommend

Trump wants a Golden Dome over America. Here's what it would take

President Trump has told the Pentagon to take another look at missile defense. Technology to shoot d

Machine Gun Kelly talks 1 year of sobriety: 'I can forgive myself'

Machine Gun Kelly is reflecting on one year of sobriety.The rapper opened up about his journey since

The State Fair of Texas opens with a new gun ban after courts reject challenge

DALLAS (AP) — The State Fair of Texas opened Friday under a new firearms ban, having withstood weeks