Three people died Thursday afternoon after two helicopters collided in midair near an Oregon airport, sending both aircraft into a field and forcing officials to close a nearby highway.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement to News Media that a Robinson R22 and an Airbus H125 collided near McMinnville Municipal Airport at about 2:15 p.m. local time.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) placed the time of the collision at approximately 2:10 p.m. local time.
According to the agency, the Airbus was an AS350B2 conducting a maintenance flight, while the Robinson R22 Beta was being used for an instructional flight.
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Thursday that all three occupants of the two helicopters were killed.
A road closure sign blocks traffic near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Oct. 29, 2026, following a midair collision between two helicopters. (Fox News)
The two people aboard the Robinson R22 were identified by the sheriff’s office as 22-year-old flight instructor Maddie Aasbo of Texas and 31-year-old student pilot Christopher James Joughin of the United Kingdom.
Authorities confirmed Joughin’s identity Friday after initially withholding his name while notifying his next of kin.
Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Oregon, was the sole occupant of the Airbus helicopter.
The helicopters went down in a field off Oregon Route 233, roughly one mile west of Dayton, Oregon Department of Transportation spokesperson Mindy McCartt said.
McCartt told News Media that emergency responders requested the closure of the highway and several nearby county roads. No reopening time had been estimated.
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McMinnville Airport Manager John Paskell said the crash occurred off airport property and did not affect airport operations. The airport remained open with no closures or restrictions.
Paskell said he understood that both helicopters were based at the airport, but he could not confirm what they were doing or provide details about how the collision happened.
The FAA and NTSB responded to the scene and are directing the investigation, the sheriff’s office said.
The NTSB said Friday that two investigators were traveling to the crash site. After the wreckage is documented, it will be recovered and transported to a secure facility for additional examination.
Emergency vehicles and personnel gather near a closed roadway outside McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Thursday, following a collision involving two helicopters. (Fox News)
Investigators will examine the pilots, aircraft and operating conditions, including flight-tracking data, air traffic control communications, maintenance records, weather and the pilots’ flight experience.
They will also review witness accounts, electronic devices and available surveillance footage, including video from doorbell cameras.
The agency is asking anyone with information about the crash to contact investigators at witness@ntsb.gov.
Investigators have not yet determined what caused the collision.
The NTSB expects to release a preliminary report within 30 days containing factual information gathered during the initial investigation.
A final report identifying the probable cause and any contributing factors is expected within 12 to 24 months.