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Three people were killed when two helicopters collided midair near an Oregon airport Thursday afternoon, crashing in a field and prompting authorities to close a nearby highway.
A Robinson R22 helicopter and an Airbus H125 helicopter collided near McMinnville Municipal Airport around 2:15 p.m. local time, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed in a statement to Fox News Digital.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Thursday that all three people aboard the helicopters died in the crash.
The two victims aboard the Robinson R22 helicopter were identified as 22-year-old flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, of Texas, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom, according to the sheriff’s office. The student’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The sole occupant of the Airbus helicopter was identified as Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Oregon.
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A road closure sign blocks traffic near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Thursday, following a midair collision between two helicopters. (Fox News)
The collision occurred in a field off Oregon Route 233, about one mile west of Dayton, according to Oregon Department of Transportation spokesperson Mindy McCartt.
McCartt told Fox News Digital that the highway and some nearby county roads were closed at the request of emergency responders. She said there was no estimated reopening time.
McMinnville Airport Manager John Paskell told Fox News Digital that the collision occurred off airport property and did not disrupt airport operations. The airport remained open without closures or restrictions.
Paskell said he understood that both helicopters were based at the airport but could not confirm what activities they were conducting or how the collision occurred.
Emergency vehicles and personnel gather near a closed roadway outside McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Thursday, following a collision involving two helicopters. (Fox News)
The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) responded to the scene and are leading the ongoing investigation into the collision, according to the sheriff’s office.
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The cause of the collision has not been determined.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office and NTSB did not respond to Fox News Digital’s requests for comment.
