Plane Crash Kills Two on Catalina Island

Authorities respond to remote incident on southern side of the island.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 11:39pm

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A sweeping, atmospheric landscape painting in muted tones of gray, blue, and green, depicting the fog-shrouded hills and cliffs of Catalina Island. The scene conveys a sense of the island's overwhelming natural scale, with no visible signs of the crashed plane.The remote, rugged terrain of Catalina Island poses unique challenges for aviation, as evidenced by this tragic plane crash.Avalon Today

A small plane crashed on Catalina Island on Monday afternoon, killing both people on board. The plane went down around 12:30 p.m. in a remote area on the island's south side, according to county officials.

Why it matters

Catalina Island is a popular tourist destination off the Southern California coast, but it can also be a challenging environment for aviation due to its rugged terrain and changeable weather conditions. This incident raises questions about air safety and emergency response capabilities on the island.

The details

County paramedics were the first to reach the crash site and confirmed both people aboard the plane were pronounced dead at the scene. The plane was identified as an Airplane Factory Sling, but the flight's origin and destination were not immediately known.

  • The plane crashed around 12:30 p.m. on April 9, 2026.

The players

Janice Hahn

A Los Angeles County Supervisor who provided information about the incident.

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What they’re saying

“This is a tragedy and my heart goes out to the loved ones of those who lost their lives. 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.”

— Janice Hahn, Los Angeles County Supervisor

What’s next

The Federal Aviation Administration will investigate the cause of the crash.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the unique challenges of aviation on Catalina Island and the importance of robust emergency response capabilities to handle incidents in remote areas.