Three people have died after two helicopters collided midair near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon, United States, authorities have said.
The collision involving a Robinson R22 and an Airbus helicopter occurred on Thursday afternoon, with both aircraft crashing into a field adjacent to a highway.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office said all three occupants died in the incident.
Authorities identified the victims as 22-year-old flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, from Texas, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom, who were aboard one of the helicopters.
The sole occupant of the second aircraft was also killed.
The British student pilot has not been publicly identified as authorities work with the consulate and the FBI to notify the next of kin.
The pilot of the second helicopter was identified as Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Oregon.
The cause of the collision remains unknown.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have responded to the scene and are leading the investigation.
The BBC has contacted the FAA for comment.
One of the aircraft was operated by Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight training school based at McMinnville Municipal Airport.
In a statement, the company confirmed that one of its helicopters was involved in the incident.
“Jerry Trimble Helicopters is deeply saddened to confirm that one of our aircraft was involved in an aviation incident this afternoon,” the company said, adding that it was fully cooperating with investigators.
Authorities urged members of the public to avoid the area as emergency responders attended the scene.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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