By Karim Hammam
Three people were killed Thursday when two helicopters collided in mid-air near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Yamhill County, Oregon, authorities confirmed. The crash occurred around 2:10 p.m. local time in a private farm field southeast of McMinnville.
Victims identified
Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott said the collision involved a 1995 Robinson R22 helicopter carrying two people and a 2018 Airbus AS 350B3 helicopter with one person aboard. All three occupants died.
The victims were identified as a student pilot from the United Kingdom aboard the Robinson, flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, 22, from Texas, and the Airbus pilot, 38-year-old Tyler Sturdevant from Newberg, Oregon. Authorities are working with the British consulate and the FBI to notify the student pilot's family.
Investigation underway
The crash site has been turned over to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board, which will lead the investigation. The FAA confirmed the collision involved a Robinson R22 and an Airbus H125 helicopter around 2:15 p.m. local time.
Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a local aviation school in McMinnville, confirmed one of its aircraft was involved and said it is fully cooperating with authorities to determine the cause.
