Three killed in midair helicopter collision near Oregon airport
Three people were killed when two helicopters collided in midair near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon on Thursday afternoon. The aircraft, a Robinson R22 and an Airbus helicopter, both crashed into a field beside a highway. The cause of the collision was not immediately known.
The Robinson R22 was carrying 22-year-old flight instructor Maddie Aasbo, from Texas, and a student pilot from the United Kingdom. The student’s identity has not been released while authorities work with the British consulate and the FBI to notify the next of kin. The Airbus had only one person aboard, identified as Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Oregon. All three occupants died.
One of the helicopters was operated by Jerry Trimble Helicopters, a flight-training school based at the airport. The company said it was deeply saddened and was cooperating fully with investigators. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board responded to the scene and are leading the investigation. Authorities also asked the public to avoid the area while emergency personnel dealt with the wreckage.
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