News Desk: Three people were killed after two helicopters collided mid-air and crashed into a farm field near a small airport in Oregon, United States, on Thursday afternoon. The incident took place a few miles east of McMinnville Airport, southwest of Portland, prompting emergency operations and the closure of a major local highway.
According to Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott, all three people aboard the two aircraft died in the crash. The victims were identified as 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo, a flight instructor from Texas, and 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant, a pilot from Oregon. The third victim was a student pilot from the United Kingdom. Authorities have not yet released the student's identity.
Emergency services received reports of the accident at around 2:15 pm local time. Rescue and recovery teams rushed to the scene, where both helicopters were found badly damaged in a farm field. Photographs released by the sheriff's department showed one green helicopter lying upside down, while another red aircraft had broken into several pieces.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the collision involved two different helicopter models: a Robinson R22 and an Airbus H125. According to the sheriff's office, two people were travelling aboard the Robinson R22, while the Airbus H125 was carrying only its pilot.
One of the helicopters was associated with Jerry Trimble Helicopters, an aviation training school based at McMinnville Airport. The institution offers flight experiences for beginners as well as advanced helicopter training programmes.
Following the tragedy, the school expressed its condolences to the victims' families and everyone affected by the incident. In a statement shared on social media, it said that it was cooperating with law enforcement agencies and federal authorities to secure the accident site and assist with the investigation.
The crash also disrupted road traffic in the surrounding area. The Oregon Department of Transportation announced the closure of Highway 233, approximately one mile west of Dayton. Local roads were also shut down as emergency personnel continued their operations. Officials did not immediately provide an estimated time for reopening the affected routes.
The sheriff's office urged residents and visitors to stay away from the crash site to allow emergency crews to work safely.
The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will jointly investigate the incident to determine what caused the two helicopters to collide in mid-air. Investigators are expected to examine the aircraft, flight records and other relevant evidence.
McMinnville, located around 35 miles southwest of Portland, is a city with a population of approximately 34,000. The local airport covers around 650 acres and has two paved runways.
The cause of the collision remains unknown, and authorities have not yet released further details about the circumstances leading up to the crash.
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