3 killed in helicopter crash on Catalina Island

LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) - A charter helicopter that gives private tours crashed Saturday on the sparsely populated west side of Catalina Island, killing three people, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman said.

Another three people aboard were injured, two critically, and were transported to hospitals, Melanie Flores said. The people were not immediately identified.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Deputy Chuck Upton said the chopper operated by Island Express came down near the city of Two Harbors about 9:30 a.m. The flight originated in Long Beach.