TRAGEDY: Three Killed As Two Helicopters Collide Midair Near US Airport

TRAGEDY: Three Killed As Two Helicopters Collide Midair Near US Airport

 

Three people have been killed after two helicopters collided midair and crashed into a field near an airport in Oregon, United States, triggering an emergency response and the closure of a major highway.

 

The fatal incident occurred on Thursday afternoon, October 29, 2026, near McMinnville Municipal Airport, approximately 35 miles southwest of Portland, Oregon.

 

According to reports, the collision involved a Robinson R22 helicopter and an Airbus H125. The aircraft reportedly collided at about 2:15 p.m. local time before crashing into a field near Highway 233.

 

The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that all three people aboard the two helicopters died in the crash.

 

The victims were identified as 22-year-old Maddie Aasbo, a flight instructor from Texas; Tyler Delane Sturdevant, 38, a pilot from Newberg, Oregon; and a student pilot from the United Kingdom whose identity was withheld pending notification of next of kin.

 

Emergency responders, including police officers, firefighters and medical personnel, rushed to the scene following reports of the collision.

 

Authorities said the crash site was located near the intersection of Southeast Amity-Dayton Highway and surrounding local roads.

 

One of the helicopters was reportedly associated with Jerry Trimble Helicopters, an aviation training school based at McMinnville Municipal Airport.

 

The school expressed sadness over the incident and confirmed that it was cooperating with law enforcement agencies and aviation investigators.

 

Meanwhile, the crash forced authorities to shut down part of Highway 233, approximately one mile west of Dayton, while emergency personnel conducted recovery operations.

 

Motorists were advised to avoid the affected area and use alternative routes as rescue and investigation activities continued.

 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the midair collision.

 

The NTSB is expected to lead the investigation, with officials examining the aircraft and other available evidence to determine what caused the helicopters to collide.

 

As of the latest reports, authorities had not established the cause of the accident.

 

The incident has renewed attention on aviation safety, particularly the risks associated with helicopter operations and flight training.

 

The investigation is ongoing.

 

TRAGEDY: Three Killed As Two Helicopters Collide Midair Near US Airport