Two Helicopters Collide Mid-Air in Oregon, Killing Three
Three people were killed when two helicopters collided mid-air and crashed near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon, United States. Following the collision, both helicopters came down on private farmland near the airport.
According to Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott, one helicopter was carrying 22-year-old flight instructor Maddie Aasbo from Texas and a student pilot who was a British national. The other helicopter was flown by 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant from Newberg, Oregon, who was the sole occupant. All three people lost their lives in the accident.
The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) identified the aircraft involved as a Robinson R-22 helicopter conducting a training flight and an Airbus AS350 helicopter performing a maintenance flight. One of the helicopters was reportedly operated by Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a company providing flight training and helicopter rental services.
A section of Highway 233 was closed following the crash, while the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and NTSB launched an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. Investigators from both agencies were reported to be examining the crash site.
