Photo screenshot: The National Desk YOUTUBE/BREAKING NEWS | No survivors in Oregon helicopter midair collision
Three people died Thursday, Oct. 29, after two helicopters collided midair near McMinnville Municipal Airport in northern Oregon. The victims included a flight instructor, a student pilot and a Newberg resident. Federal authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Yamhill County Sheriff Sam Elliott confirmed that nobody survived the collision. However, investigators have not determined what caused the two aircraft to collide.
The sheriff’s office received an emergency call around 2:15 p.m. Officials reported that the helicopters had gone down in a private field southeast of McMinnville. The location was near Southeast Highway 154 and Stringtown Road.
Emergency crews arrived to find aircraft debris scattered across the field. Authorities then began documenting the scene and gathering information.
Three people identified among the victims
Sheriff Elliott identified two of the people aboard the aircraft and provided details about the third victim.
Maddie Aasbo, 22, was a flight instructor from Texas. She occupied a Robinson R22 helicopter alongside a student pilot from the United Kingdom.
Authorities have not released the student’s identity. Officials are working with authorities in the U.K. to notify the person’s family before sharing further details.
The third victim was Tyler Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg. He was flying alone in an Airbus AS350B3 helicopter.
Meanwhile, the aircraft descriptions differed from information the Federal Aviation Administration released earlier Thursday. Investigators will need to clarify the discrepancy as they examine the incident.
Highway closures disrupt travel near the airport
The incident also affected traffic around McMinnville. The Oregon Department of Transportation closed Highway 233, approximately one mile west of Dayton.
Officials also closed Highway 154 and indicated that the restrictions could remain in place for an extended period. Drivers were advised to find alternative routes while emergency personnel and investigators worked in the area.
FAA and NTSB examine the incident
The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration have opened an investigation.
So far, neither agency has identified what caused the helicopters to collide. Investigators have also not released details about the aircraft’s flight paths or the conditions before the incident.
Additionally, authorities are asking anyone with photographs or videos of the collision to share them with local news outlets and investigators. These materials could help establish the events leading up to the collision.
More information expected as investigation continues
The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office is expected to provide additional information as the investigation progresses and officials work to notify the victims’ families.
Federal investigators typically release preliminary findings within weeks. However, a complete explanation of an aviation incident can take considerably longer.
For now, the circumstances surrounding the McMinnville helicopter collision remain under investigation.
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