Missing Helicopter, 2 Bodies Recovered
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LOS ANGELES COUNTY — Searchers on Wednesday recovered a helicopter containing the bodies of two of the three Southern California Edison employees who were killed last month when the aircraft crashed en route to Catalina Island.
The third person who died in the crash was presumed to be lost at sea, Edison spokesman Clarence Brown said.
“Based on what the authorities say, it doesn’t seem like searching further would yield any result,” he said.
Pilot Gorden Hodges, 65, of Corona and managers Sandra Brandligt, 33, of Whittier and David Peacor, 51, of Vista were killed May 28 when the company helicopter crashed into the ocean on the way from Irvine to a business meeting on Santa Catalina Island.
After a dozen days of aerial and underwater searching by a firm hired by Edison, the fallen aircraft was discovered Wednesday afternoon nearly five miles northwest of the Huntington Beach Pier at a depth of 151 feet.
The National Transportation Safety Board is directing an ongoing investigation into the cause of the accident.
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