At least he hadn't picked up the person he was trying to transport. Or were they trying to fly back? Anyway, if it was engine failure, better two victims than three.
No, he and his wife were on the way to pick up the patient. He reported back to the tower that he had lost an engine. My thinking was he tried to crash into the ocean (2 -1/2 miles west of takeoff) instead of on land where people could have been hurt.