Officials: 3 killed in midair collision involving 2 choppers near Oregon airport; cause unknown
Three people aboard aircraft
The FAA said one person was flying a Robinson R22. Two people were aboard the Airbus H125, whose pilot was identified as 38-year-old Tyler Delane Sturdevant of Newberg, Oregon.
Authorities said all three people died in the Thursday afternoon collision. The circumstances leading to the crash have not been established.
Crash site near McMinnville
The sheriff’s office said multiple agencies went to the scene near a highway southeast of McMinnville. Roads in the surrounding area were closed. One of the helicopters was owned by Jerry Trimble Helicopters, an aviation school located at McMinnville Municipal Airport, the school said.
Federal investigation underway
The FAA said the National Transportation Safety Board would take the lead in investigating the crash. The NTSB also confirmed that it was investigating. Officials have not released a cause for the collision.
Key points
- Three people died when two helicopters collided in the air near McMinnville.
- The FAA said one person was aboard the Robinson R22 and two were in the Airbus H125.
- Airbus pilot Tyler Delane Sturdevant was 38 and from Newberg, Oregon.
- The NTSB is investigating, and nearby roads were closed after agencies responded.