Plane Crashes At Catalina Island After Pilot Reports He May Be Suffering From Heart Attack ***Updated
Santa Catalina
A small plane crashed short of the runway on Santa Catalina Island Thursday afternoon. The pilot had radioed in, saying that he was suffering chest pains and possibly having a heart attack.
The plane crashed about two miles away in heavy mountain terrain near Echo Lake, Lt. Jeff Donahue of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department's Avalon Station told the Los Angeles Times.
Firefighters are now trying to contain the small fire around the plane. According to Donahue, no one on the ground was injured and no building structures or homes are threatened by the fire. Nearby youth camps may have to be evacuated if the fire comes nearer.
It is unclear how many people were on the aircraft and whether or not there are any survivors.
Update: The pilot had died in the crash, and the resulting fire has spread to 20 acres, though is mostly contained.
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