In fact, both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board have started an investigation into the crash in order to determine the cause.
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The Outpost is en route to the scene of the rescue, or close to it. We’ll have more soon.
NBC News reported the plane was operated by REACH Air Medical Services, of Santa Rosa, California.
Don Wharton, spokesman for Cal-Ore Life Flight, which provides the service through REACH, could not immediately provide information about the staff members on board. At approximately 1:05 AM PST on 07/29/16, we lost communication with the aircraft.
“First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the patient and our crewmembers”, Wharton said in a statement.
The company stated that it could not release the identities of the deceased until they receive confirmation from local authorities.
The plane, a twin-engine Piper PA31, took off from the Del Norte County Airport and was on its way to Oakland when the pilot declared an emergency at about 1 a.m. due to smoke in the cockpit, according to a press release from the Humboldt County administrative office. After reporting the problem, the pilot indicated that he was going to try to turn around and head back for Crescent City.
Rescue crews have located wreckage believed to be that of a missing Cal-Ore Life Flight that departed Crescent City early this morning bound for Oakland but went missing somewhere near Arcata, and two fatalities have been confirmed.
Humboldt CHP, a CHP helicopter from Redding, Cal-Ore, Cal Fire Helicopter, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office, and Green Diamond.
The sheriff’s office has launched a search for the plane, which carries the tail number N661TC.
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The Federal Aviation Administration database lists the plane as being registered to Blue Goose Aviation of Roseburg, Oregon.
