Three people have died after two helicopters collided mid-air near a small airport in Oregon, United States.
The collision involving a Robinson R22 and an Airbus helicopter occurred near McMinnville Municipal Airport on Thursday afternoon, with both aircraft crashing in a field adjacent to a highway, the sheriff’s office said.
Authorities identified the victims as a 22-year-old flight instructor from Texas, a student pilot from the United Kingdom who were aboard one of the helicopters, and the sole occupant of the second aircraft.
The flight instructor on the Robinson R22 was identified as Maddie Aasbo. The student pilot from the UK has not yet been publicly identified, as authorities work with the consulate and the FBI to notify the next of kin.
The sole occupant of the Airbus helicopter was identified as Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Oregon.
One of the aircraft was operated by Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight training school based at the McMinnville Municipal Airport.
“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 is fully cooperating with investigators.
The cause of the crash was not immediately clear.
The Federal Aviation Administration, FAA, and the National Transportation Safety Board, NTSB, responded to the scene and are leading the investigation.
Authorities asked the public to avoid the area as emergency response continues.