Catalina Island, CA – A sudden and tragic aircraft crash near Catalina Island resulted in the death of five individuals on Tuesday evening. The incident involved a twin-engine Beechcraft 95 which went down shortly after departing from Catalina Airport at around 8:00 p.m.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the plane, piloted by 73-year-old Ali Reza Safai, crashed approximately one mile from the airport under uncertain circumstances. The National Transportation Safety Board has joined the FAA in an ongoing investigation to determine the specifics of the crash.
Safai, also a flight instructor with Proteus Flight School based in Santa Monica, California, was flying back to Santa Monica with four passengers after assisting two pilots stranded on the island due to mechanical problems. Authorities have identified three of the passengers as Haris Ali, 33, Margaret Mary Fenner, 55, and Gonzalo Lubel, 34. Details regarding the fifth victim, a male in his 30s, are withheld pending family notification.
The journey began earlier that day from Santa Monica Airport at 5:57 p.m., arriving at Catalina around 6:20 p.m. The return trip, however, ended tragically minutes after its initiation, with the aircraft failing to clear the challenging terrain of Catalina’s ‘Airport in the Sky’.
Located about 25 miles from Los Angeles, Catalina Airport sits atop a plateau at 1,602 feet, featuring a single 3,000-foot runway. This layout imposes unique operational challenges, exacerbated during emergency situations.
Compounding the tragic circumstances, Carl True, the airport’s general manager, stated in an interview that Safai had not been granted permission for takeoff that evening. According to True, the airport typically ceases operations at 5 p.m. daily; however, arrangements can be made for flights around sunset. While Safai coordinated his arrival, he did not secure confirmation for his departure. Although there was no official clearance, the takeoff was not technically illegal since the plane departed before dark, adhering to the airport’s guidelines restricting nighttime flights due to lacking facilities.
Rescue teams located the wreckage near the airport following an emergency SOS transmitted from a passenger’s mobile phone around 8:30 p.m.
This latest disaster adds to a history of severe accidents on Catalina Island, a known hotspot for challenging aviation conditions. Previous incidents include a deadly plane crash into a hillside in 2002, which killed five due to poor visibility, and crashes in 2008 and 2009, emphasizing the hazardous nature of the weather and terrain in the area.
As investigations continue, the aviation community mourns the loss of lives, reflecting on the challenging conditions associated with Catalina Island’s unique airport facility. Authorities and experts are meticulously working to decipher the events leading to this catastrophic crash, hoping to enhance safety measures for future flights.