Three people have been killed in a midair helicopter collision near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon, authorities said.
The two aircraft collided at about 2.15pm local time on Thursday, involving an Airbus H125 and a Robinson R22, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The victims were identified as 22-year-old flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, from Texas, a British student pilot whose name has not been released, and 38-year-old Tyler Delane Sturdevant, from Newberg, Oregon.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office said all three people aboard the aircraft died. The two people aboard the Robinson R22 were identified as Ms Aasbo and the British student pilot, while Mr Sturdevant was identified as the pilot of the Airbus.
One of the helicopters belonged to Jerry Trimble Helicopters, an aviation school based at McMinnville Municipal Airport.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with the individuals involved, their families and everyone affected by the event,” the school said.
The circumstances of the collision remain unclear. Several agencies attended the crash site in a field near a highway south-east of McMinnville, and surrounding roads were closed.
The National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation, with the FAA and the NTSB confirming that inquiries were under way.
McMinnville is about 35 miles south-west of Portland.
