Helicopters collide midair near Oregon airport, killing 3

A Robinson R22 and an Airbus H125 struck one another Thursday afternoon, killing all three on board both helicopters, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The collision occurred in midair as both helicopters flew near McMinnville Municipal Airport in Oregon. The National Transportation Safety Board and the FAA are investigating what happened.

The Yamhill County Sheriff’s Office identified those killed as Maddie Aasbo, 22, of Texas, Tyler Sturdevant, 38, of Newberg, Ore., and a student pilot from the United Kingdom. The sheriff’s office withheld disclosing the student’s identity until the person’s next of kin could be notified.

Aasbo and the student were in the Robinson helicopter at the time of the crash, while Sturdevant was the sole occupant of the Airbus. The sheriff’s office also shared photos of the helicopters’ mangled wreckage lying in a field.

Dig deeper: Read Christina Grube’s report on the recent crash of an Air Force fighter jet.