In brief
Three people died after two helicopters collided near McMinnville, Oregon, on Thursday. Local authorities confirmed the crash and the closure of a key highway. Victims include a Texas flight instructor, an Oregon pilot, and a student pilot.
Three people died when two helicopters collided midair near a small airport southwest of Portland on Thursday, authorities said.
The collision took place in Yamhill County, near the town of McMinnville, a location that has seen a key arterial road come to a halt.
Local officials, including the Yamhill County sheriff, confirmed that 22‑year‑old Maddie Aasbo, a Texas flight instructor; 38‑year‑old Tyler Sturdevant, an Oregon pilot; and a student pilot, were killed in the crash.
Following the accident, Highway 233 was closed to traffic, with state and county transportation agencies indicating no reopening is expected shortly.
No details about the second helicopter’s operator or the precise circumstances that led to the collision have been released, and the identity of the student pilot’s airline or training program remains unconfirmed.
