Three people were injured when two helicopters collided in mid-air near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The crash happened shortly before 2.15pm on Thursday near Southeast Highway 154 and Stringtown Road. A Robinson R22 carrying one pilot collided with an Airbus H125, which had two people on board.
A witness told Fox 12 that he saw the helicopters strike each other while he was standing on the roof of a nearby barn. He said both aircraft then hit the ground just outside the airport perimeter and that he immediately called 911.
The extent of the three victims’ injuries was not immediately clear. Crews from the McMinnville Fire District were reported to be at the scene.
The Oregon Department of Transportation said all lanes of Route 223 were closed one mile west of Dayton, warning motorists: “This could be an extended closure. Use an alternate route.”
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the helicopter crash.
